>>Dyax and Genzyme Announce Agreement to Terminate Joint Venture for the Commercialization of DX-88 in HAE
Tuesday February 20, 4:02 pm ET
- Dyax Secures 100% Ownership to DX-88 in All Indications -
-- Conference Call Scheduled for 10 am EST, February 21, 2007 --
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dyax Corp. (NASDAQ: DYAX - News) announced today that it has reached a mutual agreement with Genzyme Corporation (NASDAQ: GENZ - News) to terminate their joint venture for the development and commercialization of DX-88 for hereditary angioedema (HAE). The termination agreement stipulates that Dyax will receive all the assets of the joint venture, including a 100% ownership of DX-88 worldwide, as well as a $17 million cash payment. Genzyme will receive 4.4 million shares of Dyax common stock. Dyax anticipates that this will not affect the Company's 2007 operating activities or the ongoing development and regulatory timelines for DX-88 in HAE.
"This mutual agreement to end our long-standing relationship with Genzyme opens numerous commercialization and partnering opportunities to optimize the value of our DX-88 franchise for both HAE and cardiothoracic surgery (CTS)," stated Henry E. Blair, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dyax. "Our four-year partnership with Genzyme has provided us with the knowledge of orphan indications to move forward from here to complete the development of our HAE program without any delays and reach out to the patient and physician communities to make DX-88 a success in the marketplace."
"The decision to end the HAE joint venture with Dyax is based on a mutual agreement as well as a focus on our rich portfolio of approximately 20 pivotal trials for new products and new indications that will contribute to our future growth," stated Henri A. Termeer, President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Genzyme Corporation. "Our equity interest in Dyax reflects our continued belief in the approvability of DX-88 for HAE, which addresses a tremendous unmet medical need."
About The Joint Venture
Dyax and Genzyme signed the original agreement to jointly develop and commercialize DX-88 for HAE in 1998; Genzyme exercised an option that created the joint venture in 2003. Dyax has been leading the development of DX-88 in HAE, including all clinical, regulatory and manufacturing activities. Through this collaboration, the companies have treated over 200 patients in multiple clinical studies. DX-88's Phase 3, EDEMA3 trial has just recently concluded and Dyax expects to report on the results for the first time in the second quarter of 2007.
About DX-88
DX-88 is a highly specific inhibitor of plasma kallikrein that was discovered and developed by Dyax. Excess plasma kallikrein is thought to play a role in a number of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Dyax is developing DX-88 for multiple indications including hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare genetic disorder and to reduce complications associated with on-pump cardiothoracic surgery (CTS).
DX-88 for HAE is in Phase 3 clinical development and has orphan drug designation in the U.S. and E.U., as well as Fast Track designation in the U.S. for the treatment of acute attacks of HAE. Dyax is just initiating Phase 2 clinical development of DX-88 for CTS.
Webcast and Conference Call
Dyax Corp. will host a webcast and conference call, including an open question and answer session to discuss fourth quarter and year end 2006 financial results and this announcement.
Date: Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Time: 10:00 a.m. ET
Telephone Access: Domestic callers, dial 800-659-2056
International callers, dial 617-614-2714
Passcode 50851737
Online Access: Go to the Investor Relations section of the Dyax
website (www.dyax.com) and follow instructions for
accessing the live webcast. Participants may
register in advance.
A replay of the conference call will be available through March 21, 2007 and may be accessed by dialing 888-286-8010. International callers should dial 617-801-6888. The replay passcode for all callers is 25985263. The webcast will be archived on the Dyax website for an indefinite period of time.<<
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Stock drifted lower all day, but doesn't seem to be moving after hours.
Cheers, Tuck |
