Altus Pharmaceuticals Inc. will make at least $15 million in a new development deal signed with biotechnology giant Genentech Inc. to create treatments for human growth hormone deficiency.
Cambridge, Mass.-based Altus announced on Wednesday that it would work with Calfornia-based Genentech (NYSE: DNA) to develop, manufacture and commercialize ALTU-238, Altus' once-per week formulation of human growth hormone.
The alliance focuses on a collaboration and licensing deal in North America, and Genentech will pay Altus $15 million up front; The company gets another $15 million through a Genentech investment in Altus stock. Altus can make up to $140 million more if the collaboration produces milestones in development and commercialization.
More money could come down the pipeline long-term because Genentech also gets a global commercialization option for ALTU-238. If the option is exercised, Altus is eligible to receive more than $110 million of upfront and milestone payments.
The companies envision co-promoting and marketing ALTU-238 in North America, and Genentech will handle development and commercialization costs for the drug.
Altus estimates the global market for recombinant human growth hormone surpassed $2.5 billion in 2005.
The drug recently completed a Phase II clinical trial that produced promising results. A treatment must successfully finish Phase III testing before it is submitted to federal regulators for approval.
ALTU-238 is a crystallized formulation of hGH that is designed to be administered once weekly through a fine gauge needle for the treatment of hGH disorders in both pediatric and adult populations. Pediatric growth hormone deficiency affects approximately 1 in 3,500 children and 1 in 10,000 adults. The market for hGH was approximately $2.2 billion in 2004. Secondary indications may include small for gestational age, idiopathic short stature, Turner Syndrome, HIV-AIDS, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and short bowel syndrome.
Nasdaq: ALTU in afternoon trading is up 67 cents to $19.65.
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