Bristol-Myers Squibb will pay Isis a $15 million upfront licensing fee, and will provide Isis with at least $9 million in research funding over a period of three years. Isis will also receive up to $168 million in milestone payments. Bristol-Myers Squibb will also pay Isis royalties on sales of products resulting from the collaboration.
The therapies developed by the companies will target proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9), which helps regulate the amount of cholesterol in the bloodstream. As part of the collaboration, Isis has licensed to Bristol-Myers Squibb exclusive access to its PCSK9 research program.
While Bristol-Myers Squibb will fund all activities under the collaboration, both companies will be responsible for preclinical development. Bristol-Myers Squibb will be responsible for clinical development, regulatory, and commercialization activities.
In addition, Bristol-Myers Squibb will work with Isis to identify follow-on PCSK9 antisense drugs with advanced antisense chemistries that may offer even greater potency and oral bioavailability.