BRIDGEWATER, N.J. & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 2, 2003--Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENZN - News) and SkyePharma PLC (NASDAQ: SKYE - News; LSE: SKP - News) announced today a strategic alliance based on a broad technology access agreement.
The two companies will draw on their combined drug delivery technology and expertise to jointly develop up to three products for future commercialization. These products will be based on SkyePharma's proprietary platforms in the areas of oral, injectable and topical drug delivery, supported by technology to enhance drug solubility and Enzon's proprietary PEG modification technology, for which Enzon will receive a US$3.5 million technology access fee. SkyePharma will receive a milestone payment for each product based on its own proprietary technology that enters Phase II clinical development. Research and development costs related to the technology alliance will be shared equally, as will future revenues generated from the commercialization of any jointly-developed products.
Effective December 31, 2002, Enzon has also licensed the North American rights to SkyePharma's DEPOCYT®, an injectable chemotherapeutic approved for the treatment of patients with lymphomatous meningitis. SkyePharma has re-acquired DEPOCYT marketing, distribution and sales rights for the U.S. from Chiron Corporation (NASDAQ:CHIR - News) in return for an undisclosed cash payment, and for Canada from Paladin Labs Inc. (TSX:PLB - News) for a nominal sum.
"This alliance will allow both companies to further capitalize on the valuable product development opportunities that exist in the drug delivery arena," said Arthur Higgins, chairman and chief executive officer of Enzon. "Not only does this deal broaden Enzon's development capabilities by complementing our powerful PEG platform with SkyePharma's impressive array of drug delivery technologies, it also brings DEPOCYT, a profitable oncology product with significant upside potential to Enzon."
Michael Ashton, SkyePharma's chief executive officer agreed on the prospects for value creation by the alliance. On DEPOCYT, he added, "Enzon shares our view that the market for DEPOCYT, the only FDA-approved chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of lymphomatous meningitis, is largely under-developed. We believe that Enzon's focused oncology marketing effort is well placed to promote DEPOCYT to physicians treating this life-threatening illness, and to achieve the product's full potential."
Enzon will pay a license fee of US$12 million for the North American rights to DEPOCYT. SkyePharma will manufacture DEPOCYT and Enzon will purchase finished product at 35% of net sales, which can reduce should a defined sales target be exceeded. SkyePharma is also entitled to milestone payments based on the achievement of certain sales levels and the approval of additional indications.
Approximately 25,000 cases of neoplastic meningitis occur annually, of which approximately 40 percent are lymphomatous meningitis and 60 percent are neoplastic meningitis in patients with solid tumors. SkyePharma is currently conducting Phase IV clinical studies that seek to expand the DEPOCYT label to include the latter, neoplastic meningitis, indication. SkyePharma understands that 2002 North American sales of DEPOCYT may approximate US$5 million. The companies believe that the product has annual sales potential in North America of at least US$25 million.
Enzon plans to market DEPOCYT through its focused, specialty oncology sales representatives currently responsible for marketing ONCASPAR®. The marketing strategy will aim to increase awareness of the benefits of DEPOCYT in treating lymphomatous meningitis, a serious, disabling and potentially fatal complication of cancer... |
