Takeda Pharmaceuticals Company Limited (TYO: 4502) has announced a significant expansion of its hematology portfolio with the acquisition of partial commercial rights to Protagonist Therapeutics Inc.’s investigational drug rusfertide in the U.S., and full rights outside the country. The agreement entails an upfront payment of USD 300 million to the California-based biotech firm, with the potential for further milestone payments and royalties on ex-U.S. sales.
Rusfertide, an analogue of the hormone hepcidin, is currently undergoing a critical Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of polycythemia vera, a disease characterized by an abnormal increase in blood cell production. Patient enrollment for this trial is anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2024, marking a crucial step towards bringing this therapy to market.- Flcube.com
