Saturday, April 15, 2017
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced that it has entered into two separate agreements to license BMS-986168, an anti-eTau compound in development for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), to Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB), and BMS-986089, an anti-myostatin adnectin in development for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), to Roche.
“Licensing these assets to Biogen and Roche will enable Bristol-Myers Squibb to prioritize the other promising opportunities for asset development that have advanced across our diversified portfolio,” said Mike Burgess, head of Cardiovascular, Fibrosis and Immunoscience Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “We recognize the significant unmet medical needs for patients with PSP and with DMD, and are pleased to put the future development of these compounds into the hands of Biogen and Roche, who both have strong capabilities, focus and leadership in neurodegenerative and rare diseases.”
Under the agreement to license BMS-986168, Biogen will pay to Bristol-Myers Squibb an upfront payment of $300 million with potential milestone payments of up to $410 million. Biogen also will assume all remaining obligations to the former stockholders of iPierian, Inc. related to Bristol-Myers Squibb’s acquisition of the company in 2014. Under the agreement to license BMS-986089, Roche will pay to Bristol-Myers Squibb an upfront payment of $170 million with potential milestone payments of up to $205 million. Bristol-Myers Squibb will receive tiered double-digit royalties if either asset is approved and commercialized. These agreements are subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, and are expected to close in the second quarter of 2017.
