FREMONT, Calif.-- PDL BioPharma, Inc. announced that Roche will discontinue its agreement with PDL to jointly develop and commercialize daclizumab for organ transplant patients on longer-term maintenance therapy. Roche made this decision subsequent to a periodic internal review of its development programs. This decision follows another decision by Roche earlier this year to discontinue its involvement in the co-development of daclizumab for the treatment of asthma. The co-development agreement between PDL and Roche will formally terminate in May 2007.
As a result, PDL will hold exclusive development and commercial rights to daclizumab for transplant maintenance, which has shown potential in both the transplant maintenance and asthma indications based on earlier clinical trials. In a separate collaboration, Biogen Idec and PDL are developing daclizumab in multiple sclerosis and indications other than transplant and respiratory diseases.
"We are evaluating the overall transplant maintenance indication opportunity for daclizumab, while we continue to support the ongoing studies of daclizumab in relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis, and anticipate results from the ongoing Phase 2 CHOICE study, which is testing daclizumab in combination with beta-interferon, during 2007," said Mark McDade, Chief Executive Officer, PDL BioPharma. "In the meantime, efforts are ongoing to evaluate partnership opportunities for this important drug in asthma."
WHAT IS DACLIZUMAB AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
Daclizumab is an immunosuppressive that inhibits the immune system from invading the transplant site thus helping to prevent rejection. It is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the interleukin 2 receptor (CD25). The end result is that when bound to the IL2 receptor, the lymphocyte cannot proliferate and grow. These T lymphocytes are responsible for organ rejection. Daclizumab is mainly indicated in kidney transplant, but has entered clinical trials for MS.
It is prescribed under the brand name zenapax.
(PDLI)Biopharmaceuticals is trading today down 40 cents to 22.27$ on the nasdaq exchange.
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