Acquires rights to Investigational Anticancer Agent E7777 for US, Europe and certain emerging markets from Eisai
Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL) has entered into a licensing agreement with Eisai Co, Japan by which DRL will be granted exclusive worldwide development and commercialisation rights (excluding Japan and Asia) for Eisai’s investigational anticancer agent E7777. Eisai will be responsible for the development and marketing of E7777 in Japan and Asia, while DRL holds the option for rights to develop and market the agent in India.
In exchange of these rights, Eisai will receive milestone payments in line with obtaining marketing approval and the achievement of agreed upon sales targets. Through this agreement, the two companies aim to accelerate development and maximise the value of E7777.
E7777 is a fusion protein that combines the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor binding domain with diphtheria toxin fragments. The agent specifically binds to IL-2 receptors on the cell surface, causing diphtheria toxins that have entered cells to inhibit protein synthesis. A phase II clinical study of the agent in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma or peripheral T-cell lymphoma is currently underway in Japan. Preparations are simultaneously in progress for a phase III clinical study of the agent in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in the US.
Raghav Chari, Executive Vice President, Proprietary Products Group, DRL, said, “E7777 has significant potential as an important component of systemic therapy for CTCL (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma). This therapy represents an extension of our current efforts in the dermatology space to an important segment of skin-related cancers.”
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