Astra Zeneca and Rigel Pharmaceuticals Sign Worldwide License Agreement

AstraZeneca and Rigel Pharmaceuticals today announced an exclusive worldwide license agreement for the global development and commercialisation of fostamatinib disodium (R788), Rigel's late-stage investigational product for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and additional indications. Fostamatinib disodium, which has completed a comprehensive Phase II programme, is the furthest developed oral Spleen Tyrosine Kinase (Syk) inhibitor being evaluated for RA. Inhibiting Syk is thought to block the intracellular signalling of various immune cells implicated in the destruction of bone and cartilage which is characteristic of RA.
RA is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease, which causes damage to the joints and other organs, affecting approximately 1 in 100 people. It is a major cause of disability and it is also associated with reduced life expectancy, especially if not adequately treated. Despite current treatment options, many patients still experience pain, worsening of joint destruction and disability, so new treatment options are needed. The RA market was estimated to be approximately $13bn globally in 2009, having grown from $1.3bn in 1998.
Once the agreement is effective, AstraZeneca will make an upfront payment to Rigel of $100 million with up to an additional $345 million payable if specified development, regulatory and first commercial sale milestones are achieved. Rigel will also be eligible to receive up to an additional $800 million of specified sales-related milestone payments if the product achieves considerable levels of commercial success, as well as significant stepped double-digit royalties on net sales worldwide. AstraZeneca is responsible for all development, regulatory filings, manufacturing and global commercialisation activities in all licensed indications under the contract. Effectiveness of the agreement is contingent on expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.
AstraZeneca will design a global phase III programme, anticipated to begin in the second half of 2010, with the goal of filing new drug applications with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) in 2013. Fostamatinib disodium is being developed as a next generation oral RA therapy in adults who have failed to respond adequately to a traditional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD), such as methotrexate, where a TNF biologic add-on treatment would currently be considered. Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will also receive exclusive rights to Rigel's portfolio of oral Syk inhibitors, as well as for additional indications for fostamatinib disodium beyond RA.
Anders Ekblom, Executive Vice President of Development, of AstraZeneca said: "There is a very real and pressing unmet medical need in the area of rheumatoid arthritis. Given the debilitating effect this disease can have on patients, AstraZeneca looks forward to working together with Rigel to continue development of this innovative investigational compound. Collaborations such as this one, which further strengthen our late-stage pipeline, demonstrate the key role externalisation continues to play in AstraZeneca's strategy."

James M. Gower, chairman and chief executive officer of Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. said: "This collaboration fulfills our expectations in two key ways. First, AstraZeneca has made an expansive commitment to develop fostamatinib disodium for the treatment of RA, which means that the work we have begun for patients with this disease will be completed with a substantially larger clinical programme. Second, Rigel will receive royalties on potential future sales, appropriate to its investment in the development of R788."
About Fostamatinib disodium

Fostamatinib disodium, which has completed a comprehensive phase II programme is at the most advanced stage of development of the oral Spleen Tyrosine Kinase (Syk) inhibitors being evaluated for an RA indication. Inhibiting Syk is thought to block the intracellular signaling of various immune cells implicated in the destruction of bone and cartilage, which is characteristic of RA. Inhibition of Syk signaling is therefore a very attractive research approach to RA treatment.
About Fostamatinib disodium Phase II data

Three Phase II trials have been completed. TASKi1 and TASKi2 studied patients with an incomplete response to methotrexate. TASKi3 studied patients who had failed treatment with biologic therapies.
TASKi2 was a multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase IIb trial of 457 RA patients in the target population of those with inadequate response to methotrexate. Treatment with stable doses of methotrexate in combination with fostamatinib disodium 100 mg twice daily, 150 mg once daily, or placebo were evaluated at six months. At six months, 100 mg twice daily fostamatinib disodium therapy (a dose planned to be taken forward in Phase III) yielded responder rates of 66% versus 35% of the placebo group for the primary end point of ACR 20 improvement. ACR 50 response was achieved by 43% versus 19%: ACR 70 responder rates were observed in 28% versus 10%. All achieved p values of <0.001. DAS28 remission was achieved in 31% versus 7% (p<0.01).
This replicates the signal seen in the original smaller TASKi1 study in a similar population (n=189) where 100 mg of fostamatinib disodium twice daily yielded responses of 65% versus 38% of the placebo group for ACR20. ACR 50 response was achieved by 49% vs. 19% and ACR70 was achieved by 33% vs 4%. DAS28 remission was achieved in 26% vs 8%. All of these endpoints achieved p values of p<0.05 or better. In both studies clinical effect was seen as early as one week.
TASKi3 was a smaller study which included 219 patients who had failed biologic therapies. Although there was some evidence of efficacy on the MRI imaging, and on some other parameters, the study did not meet its primary endpoint.
These data indicate further studies of fostamatinib disodium are warranted in RA.
Combining all three trials, the most common side effects have been GI disturbances such as diarrhoea, elevated blood pressure, transient and mild neutropenia, increased transaminases and a slight increase in infections, although not serious or opportunistic infections.