Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) and ZymoGenetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZGEN) today
announced an agreement where Novo Nordisk in-licenses a fully-human
anti-IL21 monoclonal antibody (IL-21 mAb) developed by ZymoGenetics, as
well as broad intellectual property rights covering IL-21 mAb and the
development of other IL-21 antibodies. The IL-21 mAb is a pre-IND
candidate for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Novo Nordisk in-licensed intellectual property rights to IL-21
antibodies outside North America in 2001 and now has worldwide rights.
Under the terms of the license, Novo Nordisk has agreed to pay
ZymoGenetics an initial upfront cash payment of 24 million dollars. In
addition, as the development programme of the IL-21 mAb advances,
ZymoGenetics may receive further milestones from Novo Nordisk of up to
157.5 million dollars over the term of the agreement including a 1.5
million dollar milestone payment upon filing an investigational new drug
application and a 8.5 million dollar milestone payment at the start of
phase 1 studies with the mAb, plus royalties on net sales. ZymoGenetics
also has a right to co-promote the IL-21 mAb product in the US if the
company contributes to phase 3 clinical development costs.
“Novo Nordisk is currently building a pipeline of products to treat
autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus
and inflammatory bowel disease,” said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive
vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk. “It was
important for us to secure the worldwide rights to the IL-21 mAb project
as well as worldwide patent rights to IL-21 antibodies, and we look
forward to initiating a phase 1 trial with this IL-21 mAb in 2010.”