The first milestone is for initiation of the phase 3 clinical program with fostamatinib in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by AstraZeneca.
The second milestone marks the completion of the transfer of the fostamatinib long-term open label extension study from Rigel to AstraZeneca.
In February 2010, Rigel granted AstraZeneca exclusive rights to the future development and commercialisation of fostamatinib.
AstraZeneca outlined the scope of their global clinical trial program OSKIRA (Oral Syk Inhibition in Rheumatoid Arthritis), which will include three pivotal phase 3 studies assessing the efficacy and tolerability of fostamatinib.
Results are expected to allow for the filing of new drug applications with the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency in 2013.