Elan to work with Archemix to develop aptamer therapeutics for autoimmune disease

By E. Janene Geiss

Philadelphia, July 13 - Elan Corp., plc announced Thursday a multi-year, multi-product alliance with Archemix Corp. focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of first-in-class aptamer therapeutics to treat autoimmune disease.

The companies will seek to develop aptamer therapeutics to IL-23, a cytokine that has emerged as a mediator in the chronic autoimmune inflammatory diseases and additional protein targets, according to a company news release.

The collaboration combines Archemix's expertise in aptamer therapeutics with Elan's experience in the development and commercialization of new therapies for autoimmune diseases, officials said.

Under the agreement, Archemix said it will receive an upfront payment of $7 million.

Depending upon the number of products successfully commercialized under the collaboration, Archemix said it is eligible to receive development and sales milestones in excess of $350 million.

Archemix also is entitled to receive a royalty on any marketed products developed under the collaboration.

Other financial terms were not disclosed.

Archemix said it also has an option to participate in the co-development of some products that may emerge from this collaboration.

Interleukin 23, or IL-23, is a cytokine that has emerged as a mediator in chronic autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Preclinical results have demonstrated that IL-23 exerts its pro-inflammatory effects principally at the site of inflammation. It is hypothesized that specific blockade of IL-23 may control clinical symptoms at the level of the inflamed tissue without generally suppressing the patient's immune system, thus preserving the body's ability to fight infection.

Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acids that form well-defined three-dimensional shapes, allowing them to bind to target molecules in a manner that is conceptually similar to antibodies.

Archemix is a privately held biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Mass.

Elan is a Dublin, Ireland, neuroscience-based biotechnology company.

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