Ipsen, GTx expand partnership for toremifene 80 mg

Mar 23 2010

“This new agreement with GTx gives us expanded market reach and rights for toremifene, in what we view as significant unmet medical needs for patients suffering from prostate cancer. It will strengthen Ipsen’s franchise in hormone-dependent cancers and broaden our drug range in the oncology area.”

Ipsen (Paris:IPN)(Euronext: FR0010259150; IPN) and GTx, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTXI) today announced the expansion of their partnership for the development and commercialization of toremifene 80 mg for the reduction of fractures in men with advanced prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and toremifene 20 mg for the prevention of prostate cancer in high risk patients with High Grade Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia lesions (HGPIN).

Under the terms of the amended collaboration agreement, Ipsen will pay GTx up to €42 million (approximately $58 million, based on current exchange rates) in milestone payments upon the initiation, enrollment and progression of the second toremifene 80 mg Phase III clinical trial. In return, GTx has granted Ipsen:

• The right to co-promote toremifene 80 mg in the United States or, in lieu of co-promoting in the US, the right to a double digit royalty stream on net sales of toremifene 80 mg in the U.S.
• An expansion of Ipsen’s licensed territory for marketing toremifene products beyond Europe, including Australia and certain countries in North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia (excluding Japan).
• Relief from Ipsen’s previous contractual obligations, notably to pay GTx potential remaining milestones related to the European approval of toremifene 80 mg.
• Royalties on Ipsen’s net sales of toremifene 80 mg set at a fixed low teens rate compared to a variable rate previously.
• A first right of negotiation under certain conditions for rights to GTx-758, currently in Phase II clinical trial for the first-line treatment of men with advanced prostate cancer, in Ipsen’s licensed toremifene territories.

“Once the agreement is reached with the FDA on a final study protocol required for marketing approval, we will initiate the second phase III clinical trial later this year with toremifene 80 mg to reduce fractures in men with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy” said Mitchell S. Steiner, MD, Chief Executive Officer of GTx. “We are excited to expand our toremifene clinical and commercial partnership with Ipsen.”

Stéphane Thiroloix, Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, Ipsen said: “This new agreement with GTx gives us expanded market reach and rights for toremifene, in what we view as significant unmet medical needs for patients suffering from prostate cancer. It will strengthen Ipsen’s franchise in hormone-dependent cancers and broaden our drug range in the oncology area.”