Ironwood, Allergan partner to co-promote Viberzi in US to treat IBS with diarrhea

Viberzi, an orally active compound indicated to treat IBS-D in men and women, has mixed opioid receptor activity and is a mu receptor agonist, a delta receptor antagonist and a kappa receptor agonist.

The agreement is separate from and complementary to the firms’ ongoing co-development and co-commercialization of Linzess (linaclotide) to treat adults with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) or chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC).

As part of the new deal, Ironwood’s clinical sales specialists will detail Viberzi to the approximately 25,000 health care practitioners to whom they currently detail Linzess and Cologuard.

Allergan commercial North American brands executive vice-president Bill Meury said: "This collaboration enables Ironwood and Allergan to work together to bring forward two innovative medicines demonstrated to improve the abdominal pain and bowel dysfunction that define IBS-C and IBS-D, two types of IBS that impact nearly 30 million adult Americans.

"Allergan and Ironwood have an established and successful partnership co-promoting Linzess in the US market, and we have demonstrated the strength of our combined commercial teams in accessing and educating both gastroenterologists and primary care physicians."

Linzess will remain the first-position product for the Ironwood sales team and the company’s promotional efforts will be compensated based on the volume of calls delivered by its sales force, as well as agreed upon performance metrics.

The deal will see Allergan responsible for all other costs relating to the commercialization of Viberzi and the co-promotion will be initiated once Viberzi is commercially available.