Initiation of ALD518/BMS-945429 Phase 2b clinical trial in RA triggers milestone payment to Alder

Alder Biopharmaceuticals Inc. today announced it will receive a $15 million milestone payment from Bristol-Myers Squibb for the initiation of a Phase 2b clinical trial in rheumatoid arthritis for ALD518/BMS-945429, an investigational antibody therapeutic that blocks interleukin-6 (IL-6).

The milestone payment is part of the Alder/Bristol-Myers Squibb collaboration that was formed in 2009 for the development of ALD518/BMS-945429. Under the collaboration agreement, Alder granted to Bristol-Myers Squibb worldwide exclusive rights to develop and commercialize ALD518/BMS-945429 for all potential clinical uses, with the exception of cancer treatment and  cancer supportive care, which are rights retained by Alder.

This Phase 2b randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of multiple doses of a subcutaneous formulation of ALD518/BMS-945429. Further details of the study can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

"We are pleased that Bristol-Myers Squibb continues to advance ALD-518/BMS-945429 in clinical development and look forward to seeing the results of this larger clinical experience in rheumatoid arthritis," said Randall Schatzman, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Alder Biopharmaceuticals. "We also look forward to progressing our internal work with the antibody as a potential treatment in cancer and cancer supportive care."