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news.AstraZeneca and Rigel Pharmaceuticals have entered into exclusive worldwide license agreement for the global development and commercialization of R256.
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Rigel’s R256 inhaled JAK inhibitor, which was shown to inhibit IL-13 and IL-4 signaling, is being investigated as a treatment for moderate to severe chronic asthma.
R256 demonstrated significant reduction in reduce airway inflammation and improvement in lung function.
Rigel discovery and research president and executive vice president Donald Payan said with AstraZeneca as the company’s development partner, severely asthmatic people may one day have inhalable R256 as an additional, useful treatment option.
"This marks our second collaboration with AstraZeneca in the area of immunology and we are confident it will be as mutually rewarding as the first," Payan added.
As a part of the agreement, AstraZeneca will begin first-in-human clinical studies for R256, design and conduct the clinical development of the compound.
According to the agreement, AstraZeneca will have exclusive rights to commercialize R256 around the world while Rigel will earn an upfront payment of $1m with an additional $8.25m in early milestone payments anticipated by the end of 2013.
The R256 collaboration is expected to be worth up to $100m, together with other specified developmental, regulatory and launch milestone payments.
Rigel is also eligible to gain tiered royalty payments on product sales, upon marketing approval of R256.