Actelion refocusing R&D, reducing costs

Actelion Ltd. (SIX:ATLN) said it plans to reduce R&D and overhead spending by refocusing R&D activities on specialty areas and out-licensing its primary care programs. Actelion did not provide details on specific cuts. Actelion's primary care pipeline includes three programs in Phase I testing: an undisclosed cardiovascular compound; an orexin receptor antagonist for insomnia; and a prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) receptor ( CRTH2) antagonist for asthma and allergic disorders.

The company's specialty programs include two in Phase II testing: ponesimod, a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 ( S1PR1; S1P1; EDG1) agonist for multiple sclerosis (MS) and plaque psoriasis; and cadazolid, an antibiotic for Clostridium difficile infection. The news comes a week after Actelion said macitentan met the primary endpoint in the Phase III SERAPHIN trial to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (see BioCentury, May 7). ...