BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

Cangene, Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals, Ipsen deal

February 25, 2013 8:00 AM UTC

Cangene acquired Inspiration's remaining hemophilia portfolio from Inspiration and partner Ipsen, including nonacog gamma ( IB1001). Cangene will also receive rights to Inspiration's preclinical hemophilia candidates IB1007 and IB1008. Cangene will pay $5.9 million up front and up to $50 million in sales milestones, plus tiered double-digit royalties. Ipsen will receive about 60% of the upfront payment and 80% of other payments.

Cangene also disclosed that FDA issued a complete response letter for IB1001. The company said FDA defined a "clear path to approval" and requested additional manufacturing and development information, but did not ask for any additional clinical data. Cangene could not be reached for additional details. In July 2012, FDA placed a clinical hold on a pair of Phase III trials evaluating IB1001 after Inspiration reported a higher-than-expected proportion of IB1001-treated patients who developed antibodies against Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) protein, the product's host cell protein. IB1001 is a recombinant coagulation factor IX (rFIX) under review in the U.S. and EU to treat hemophilia B. IB1007 is a recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) and IB1008 is a recombinant factor VIII ( rFVIII). Last month, Ipsen and Inspiration announced that Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX, Deerfield, Ill.) will acquire Inspiration's hemophilia A compound OBI-1 (see BioCentury, July 16, 2012 & Jan. 28, 2013). ...