Regeneron and Bayer expand deal to develop new option for wet-AMD

14 January 2014

US biotech firm Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: REGN) said yesterday that it has expanded its accord with German partner Bayer (BAYN: DE) to jointly develop an innovative antibody to the platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFR-beta) as a potential combination therapy with Eylea (aflibercept) for wet age-related macular degeneration (wet-AMD).

Reacting to the news, shares of Regeneron dipped 2.1% to $268.68 in after-hours trading yesterday, while Bayer’s stock slipped 2.0% to 96.33 euros in early trading this morning.

Preclinical data suggests that combining PDGFR-beta blockade with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) blockade by currently marketed Eylea can provide advantages over inhibiting VEGF alone in the treatment of this devastating eye disease. First in human clinical studies are currently planned to begin in early 2014, the companies said.

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