Roche enters COPD sector with 400 million-plus-euro deal with Galapagos and antibody accord with AnaptysBio

12 January 2010

Mechelen, Belgium-based Galapagos NV has entered into a global, multi-year strategic alliance with Swiss drug major Roche to develop potential new therapies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which could earn the former more than 400 million euros ($573 million).

News of the deal pushed Galapagos' shares 6.6% higher to 9.05 euros, while Roche moved up an imperceptible 0.1% to 178.70 Swiss francs, despite also announcing US approval for its rheumatoid arthritis drug Actemra (tocilizumab) ahead of the weekend (The Pharma Letter January 11).

Under the terms of the agreement, Galapagos has received a research access payment of 6 million euros from Roche, and is also eligible to get discovery, development, regulatory and sales milestone payments that could potentially exceed 400 million euros, plus royalties upon commercialization of any products covered in the agreement.

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