Pharmaceutical Business review

Astellas halts development of Alzheimer’s candidate

Astellas started phase II trials of the drug in the US and Canada but has halted these trials in light of the interim findings.

In more positive news for Astellas, the company has acquired the Japanese rights to Theravance’s investigational antibiotic, telavancin. The acquisition of the Japanese rights to the drug is an extension to the companies’ already existing licensing deal and gives Astellas worldwide rights to this potential treatment for serious infections.

Under the extended licensing deal, US-based Theravance will receive an upfront payment of $10 million from Astellas and is eligible to receive a $5 million milestone payment for regulatory approval in Japan.