Ipsen, Active Biotech sign deal to co-develop and commercialize TASQ

Apr 18 2011

Active Biotech AB (NASDAQ OMX NORDIC: ACTI) and Ipsen (Paris:IPN)(Euronext: IPN; ADR: IPSEY) announced today that they have entered into a broad partnership to co-develop and commercialize Active Biotech's investigational compound Tasquinimod "TASQ". A global Phase III trial of TASQ in men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) was recently initiated by Active Biotech and patient recruitment is ongoing.

Marc de Garidel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ipsen stated: "This new partnership will broaden the scope of our uro-oncology franchise. Subject to the success of the ongoing phase III clinical trial for the treatment of metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer and following market approval, TASQ will perfectly fit in our current portfolio, alongside the sustained-release formulations of Decapeptyl^®. We continue to fulfill Ipsen's commitment to offer physicians and patients a comprehensive range of complementary medical solutions for the treatment of prostate cancer. We are excited to work with Active Biotech as this partnership leverages our longstanding and recognized expertise in this severely debilitating disease."

"We are excited to initiate the development of TASQ with Ipsen, who has a proven track record and strong R&D capabilities within prostate cancer. We consider Ipsen an ideal partner for Active Biotech and with this partnership a powerful development and commercialization strategy for TASQ has been secured. "said Tomas Leanderson, President & CEO of Active Biotech.