Debiopharm, Dyax revise Depelestat development agreement

By Angela McDaniels

Seattle, Dec. 20 - Debiopharm SA and Dyax Corp. said they have restructured their long-standing development agreement for Depelestat (EPI-hNE4 or DX-890) for the treatment of pulmonary disorders, a compound discovered by Dyax and developed by Debiopharm.

Under the terms of the restructured agreement, Debiopharm will have exclusive worldwide rights for the development, manufacture and commercialization of a native form of Depelestat for cystic fibrosis and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Dyax will retain rights to milestones and royalties for Debiopharm's Depelestat programs, as well as the exclusive worldwide rights to extended half-life versions of Depelestat for development, manufacturing and commercialization in other chronic pulmonary indications such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the companies said.

Dyax will receive a milestone payment upon execution of the agreement in connection with Debiopharm's recent start of phase 1 clinical studies in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients. Other financial details were not disclosed.

Depelestat inhibits human neutrophil elastasem, an enzyme produced as part of the inflammatory response and implicated in the loss of lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis and other clinical conditions, the companies said.

Depelestat is in a phase 2b study to demonstrate clinical benefit and define dosing for a phase 3 trial and a phase 1 study in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients. Depelestat has orphan drug designations in both the United States and Europe.

Debiopharm is a drug-development company based in Lausanne, Switzerland, that specializes in oncology, endocrinology, central nervous system and niche products.

Dyax is a drug-development company based in Cambridge, Mass., that develops biotherapeutics for unmet medical needs, with an emphasis on cancer and inflammatory indications.

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