Incyte, Novartis deal

Incyte will receive a $60 million milestone payment from Novartis under a 2009 deal granting the pharma exclusive, ex-U.S. rights to Jakavi ruxolitinib. The milestone is related gaining reimbursement of the oral Janus kinase-1 (JAK-1) and JAK-2 inhibitor in Germany, France and Italy. The milestone also triggers Incyte's obligation to pay tiered, low-single digit royalties to Novartis on sales of the product in the U.S.

Ruxolitinib is approved in the U.S. as Jakafi for intermediate- or high-risk myelofibrosis (MF), including primary MF, post-polycythemia vera MF (PPV-MF) and post-essential thrombocythemia MF (PET-MF). The drug is under review in the U.S. and EU to treat polycythemia vera (PV) in patients who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant of hydroxyurea. The PDUFA date is Dec. 5 (see BioCentury, Aug. 11). ...