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AstraZeneca to recover brazikumab (MEDI2070)
AstraZeneca to recover brazikumab (MEDI2070).
About this update from Astrazeneca Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \nRNS Number : 9766A AstraZeneca PLC 27 January 2020 \n\n27 January 07.00 GMT\n \nAstraZeneca to recover the global rights to \nbrazikumab (MEDI2070) from Allergan\n \nAgreement strengthens AstraZeneca's respiratory and immunology pipeline\n \nAstraZeneca will recover the global rights to brazikumab (formerly MEDI2070), a monoclonal antibody targeting IL23, from Allergan. Brazikumab is currently in a Phase IIb/III programme in Crohn's disease (CD)1 and a Phase IIb trial in ulcerative colitis (UC).2\n \nAstraZeneca and Allergan will terminate their existing license agreement and all rights to brazikumab will revert to AstraZeneca. The transaction is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2020, subject to regulatory approvals associated with AbbVie's proposed acquisition of Allergan and its timely completion.\n \nMene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, said: \"We're pleased to bring brazikumab back into the AstraZeneca pipeline. With our expanding presence in immunology, there is an opportunity to address a significant unmet need in inflammatory bowel diseases where the majority of patients are unable to achieve clinical remission with current treatment options. This agreement creates an opportunity for us to complete the full development programme and bring this potential new treatment option to patients as quickly as possible.\"\n \nAstraZeneca's mid to late-stage pipeline of biologic medicines in respiratory and immunology includes Fasenra (benralizumab) which is being evaluated in eight eosinophil-driven diseases beyond severe asthma, tezepelumab in Phase III development for severe, uncontrolled asthma, anifrolumab for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus which is being prepared for regulatory submission in the second half of 2020, and MEDI3506 (IL33 monoclonal antibody), a potential new medicine for the treatment of dermatological and other diseases entering Phase II trials.\n \nFinancial considerations\nUnder the termination agreement, Allergan will fund up to an agreed amount, estimated to be the total costs expected to be incurred by AstraZeneca until completion of development for brazikumab in CD and UC, including the development of a companion diagnostic. \n \nPursuant to the 2012 coll...