FDA acceptance of peginesatide NDA triggers $10M milestone payment to Affymax

Affymax, Inc. (Nasdaq:AFFY) today announced that it has received a $10 million development milestone payment from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company as part of the companies' exclusive global agreement to develop and commercialize peginesatide (formerly known as Hematide™), Affymax's investigational drug for the treatment of anemia in chronic renal failure patients. The payments were triggered by the acceptance and filing of the New Drug Application for peginesatide by the FDA.

If approved, peginesatide will be the first once-monthly erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) available for the treatment of anemia associated with CKD patients on dialysis in the United States.