Amgen, Takeda Announce R&D Partnership

Thousand Oaks, CA (Feb. 4)-Amgen will partner with research firm Takeda Pharmaceutical (Osaka, Japan) to develop and commercialize 13 of Amgen’s molecules. One molecule is included as an option.

The deal encompasses early- to mid-stage clinical candidates, including compounds used in oncology and the treatment of inflammation and pain.

Under the agreement, Takeda becomes the worldwide partner for Amgen’s oncology drug “Vectibix” (panitumumab), motesanib diphosphate. In 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Vectibix as the first fully human IgG2 monoclonal antibody therapy. It targets epidermal growth factor receptor, a protein that plays an important role in cancer-cell signaling. All other molecules included in the partnership are biologics.

Amgen will receive an upfront payment of $200 million. Takeda will pay as much as $340 million during the next several years for in expected development costs, $362 million in success-based milestone payments, and double-digit royalties on sales in Japan. Takeda also announced it will acquire all the shares of Amgen’s Japanese subsidiary, Amgen KK.