This decision follows another decision by Roche earlier this year to discontinue its involvement in the co-development of daclizumab for the treatment of asthma. The co-development agreement between PDL and Roche will formally terminate in May 2007.
As a result, PDL will hold development and commercial rights to daclizumab for transplant maintenance. The drug had shown potential in both the transplant maintenance and asthma indications based on earlier clinical trials.
In a separate collaboration, Biogen Idec and PDL are developing daclizumab in multiple sclerosis and indications other than transplant and respiratory diseases.
“We are evaluating the overall transplant maintenance indication opportunity for daclizumab, while we continue to support the ongoing studies of daclizumab in relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis, and anticipate results from the ongoing phase II study, which is testing daclizumab in combination with beta-interferon, during 2007,” said Mark McDade, CEO of PDL.
“In the meantime, efforts are ongoing to evaluate partnership opportunities for this important drug in asthma.”