Ferring and Conaris enter deal to develop IBD drug

Switzerland's Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Germany-based Conaris Research Institute AG have completed an exclusive worldwide license agreement for the development of FE301, a new recombinant protein inhibitor of the interleukin-6 pathway for inflammatory conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.

IL-6 acts early in the inflammatory cascade and, therefore, it is hoped that FE301 could offer physicians more options than current biologic treatments for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. This agreement represents another step in Ferring's move into biotechnology R&D. FE 301 is undergoing preclinical testing before entering Phase I studies in 2010.

In 2007, IBD sales totaled $2.65 billion in the seven major markets (Japan, the USA and European Union). Crohn's represented 57% of this turnover with sales of $1.51 billion.