Cytokinetics, Astellas partner for muscle weakness
Astellas Pharma Inc. (Tokyo:4503) and Cytokinetics Inc. (NASDAQ:CYTK) partnered to develop and commercialize skeletal muscle activators to treat diseases and conditions with muscle weakness in a deal worth up to $490 million. The partners will jointly work to identify and optimize fast skeletal troponin activators and other skeletal muscle activators with new mechanisms. Astellas will have exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize any fast skeletal troponin activators in non-neuromuscular indications. The pharma will have rights to any other identified skeletal muscle activators for all indications.
Cytokinetics also granted Astellas exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize CK-2127107 for non-neuromuscular indications. The fast skeletal muscle troponin activator is in Phase I testing to treat neuromuscular dysfunction, muscular weakness and muscle fatigue. Cytokinetics will conduct Phase I development, and Astellas will be responsible for further development and commercialization. ...