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news.Belgium-based biopharmaceutical firm UCB has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Dermira, a US-based dermatology firm, to develop and future commercialize Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) in dermatology.
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The deal aims to broaden patient access to Cimzia and make it available to patients with psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune disorder.
Currently, Cimzia is not approved for the treatment of psoriasis by any regulatory authority.
UCB chief medical officer and executive vice president Iris Loew-Friedrich said the Dermira team has a track record in dermatology drug development and commercialization and the company looks forward to its collaboration.
"Since the first US approval of Cimzia in 2008, we continue to evaluate its potential across severe immunological diseases with the goal of bringing this treatment option to more patients," Loew-Friedrich said.
"The exploratory Phase 2 studies in patients with plaque psoriasis have shown promising data that support further clinical development.
"In addition, the improvement in psoriasis skin symptoms observed in patients with significant skin involvement in the pivotal RAPID-Psoriatic Arthritis study, were consistent with those seen in our Phase 2 study in patients with plaque psoriasis.
"The RAPID study supported the approval of Cimzia in psoriatic arthritis in US and EU in 2013. With Dermira, we now have a strong specialized partner with whom to move forward to make Cimzia available to patients living with psoriasis and their physicians."
As part of the deal, UCB grants Dermira an exclusive license to develop certolizumab pegol in psoriasis in the US, Canada and the EU.
Dermira will be responsible for Phase III development costs as well as will receive payments of about $49.5m on the achievement of development and regulatory milestones.
Subject to regulatory approval of Cimzia in psoriasis, Dermira is granted an exclusive commercial license to market the drug to dermatologists in the US and Canada.
The deal will see UCB record the sales and Dermira receive tiered royalty payments on those product sales which are attributable to dermatologists in the US and Canada and about $40m upon the achievement of tiered commercial milestones.
In order to support the partnership, UCB has made a $5m equity investment in Dermira and a commitment to invest about an additional $15m in future Dermira equity financings.