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The drug, MEDI1341, is an antibody treatment discovered by the
British company that is due to enter Phase I clinical trials later
this year.
The deal is the latest example of AstraZeneca partnering with other
drugmakers to develop medicines as it seeks to focus resources on
priority areas such as cancer and respiratory disease.
"By combining our scientific expertise and sharing the risks and
cost of development, we hope to accelerate the advancement of
MEDI1341 as a promising new approach to support the treatment of
people with Parkinson’s disease around the world," said AstraZeneca
executive vice president Mene Pangalos.
Takeda has a strong track record in neuroscience, while for
AstraZeneca it is lower priority area in which it is seeking
partnerships.
On Monday, it struck a separate deal with Boston-based Berg to use
artificial intelligence to work on Parkinson's disease.
Under the terms of the latest agreement, announced on Tuesday,
AstraZeneca will lead Phase I testing of MEDI1341 while Takeda will
lead future clinical development.
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The companies will share equally future development and
commercialization costs for MEDI1341, as well as any future
revenues, with Takeda paying AstraZeneca up to $400 million,
including initial revenue in 2017.
Cancer, rather than neuroscience, is the area of greatest potential
opportunity for Britain's AstraZeneca, although its prospects in
oncology suffered a major blow last month when an immunotherapy
treatment failed to help patients as hoped in a closely watched lung
cancer trial.
(Reporting by Ben Hirschler. Editing by Jane Merriman)
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