Wednesday January 10, 6:00 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: InterMune Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
InterMune Acquires Amphotec(R) From ALZA
BURLINGAME, Calif. and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- InterMune (Nasdaq: ITMN - news) and ALZA Corporation (NYSE: AZA - news) announced today that InterMune has acquired worldwide rights to Amphotec® from ALZA. The transaction terms include an upfront license fee of $9.0 million, milestone payments based upon sales levels and the development of Amphotec® in combination with ACTIMMUNE®, and royalties payable upon net sales levels. Amphotec® is an FDA-approved lipid-complexed form of amphotericin B indicated for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis, a life-threatening fungal infection.
Data published in the September 2000 issue of the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy showed that in mouse models of cryptococcal fungal infection, ACTIMMUNE® was synergistic with amphotericin B in significantly reducing the levels of infection. In one experiment, 78 percent of mice were completely cured when ACTIMMUNE® was added to conventional therapy with amphotericin B, compared to 10 percent with amphotericin B alone. Several other published studies have shown similar results in systemic fungal infections.
``Amphotec® is a solid fit for InterMune as it provides synergy on two levels with our existing Actimmune® programs,'' said W. Scott Harkonen, M.D., CEO and President of InterMune. ``First, it will provide us with the opportunity to develop ACTIMMUNE® in combination with Amphotec® for systemic fungal diseases. Towards the end of this year we are expecting the results of our ongoing Phase II trial for ACTIMMUNE® in combination with standard amphotericin B for cryptococcal meningitis, a life-threatening systemic fungal infection. Second, it will leverage our team of 60 field specialists, all of whom will be trained and in place by July of this year. This gives them a second product to speak about with physicians along with ACTIMMUNE®.''
``We believe that Amphotec® has significant potential given proper support in its target market. With InterMune's strength in marketing ACTIMMUNE®, they are ideally positioned to maximize the potential of Amphotec® in the infectious disease market,'' said Sam Saks, M.D., Group Vice President of ALZA Pharmaceuticals. ``This agreement is consistent with ALZA's overall growth strategy as we continue to strengthen our effective sales and marketing presence in the oncology, central nervous system, primary care and urology markets.''
Amphotec® is sold outside of the United States as Amphocil® in more than 20 countries. The product was originally developed by SEQUUS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which was acquired by ALZA in 1999. Worldwide gross revenues for Amphotec® were approximately $4 million in 2000. Amphotec® has not been aggressively marketed to physicians for the past two years.
InterMune Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biotechnology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative products for the treatment of serious pulmonary and infectious diseases and cancer. InterMune currently markets ACTIMMUNE® (Interferon gamma-1b) Injection in the United States for the treatment of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and severe, malignant osteopetrosis. For more information about InterMune and ACTIMMUNE®, please visit InterMune's web sites at www.intermune.com and www.actimmune.com, or send e-mail to ir@intermune.com. |
