24th Apr 2015 05:24
SUMMIT (Alliance News) - Celgene International II Sàrl, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Celgene Corp, Friday said it has entered into a strategic collaboration with MedImmune Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca PLC, to develop and commercialize an anti-PD-L1 inhibitor, MEDI4736, for hematologic malignancies.
MEDI4736 is a human monoclonal antibody directed against programmed cell death ligand 1 or PD-L1, which helps tumors avoid detection by the immune system. Tumor cells use PD-L1 to turn off the immune system just as it begins to mount a response against them.
MEDI4736 helps turn the immune system back on, allowing it to continue its attack on cancer. About 1.75 million patients globally suffer from blood cancer and many are in need of new treatment options.
Celgene will collaborate with AstraZeneca to develop the anti-PD-L1 antibody MEDI4736 in hematology and make an upfront payment of USD450 million.
The company will lead clinical development across all new clinical trials within the collaboration and be responsible for all costs associated with these trials until December 31, 2016, after which it is responsible for 75% of these costs.
Celgene will also be responsible for the global commercialization of approved MEDI4736 indications in hematology, and will receive royalty rates starting at 70% of worldwide sales from all uses in hematology.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
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