Alcon partners with GlaxoSmithKline, Origenis

Key Points

Hunenberg, Switzerland-Alcon Inc. has executed a new agreement and broadened an existing agreement with two different companies to expand its products under development.

The company has entered into a licensing agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for the global ophthalmic rights to cilomilast, a phosphodiesterase IV inhibitor. Also, Alcon has expanded its existing drug research alliance with Origenis GmbH, with a focus on the discovery and development of small molecules that some day might play a role in the treatment of eye diseases. Both agreements were signed by Alcon's affiliate, Alcon Research Ltd.

"Alcon's focus is on expanding our research pipeline through targeted collaborations," said Sabri Markabi, MD, Alcon's senior vice president of research and development and chief medical officer. "We believe the cilomilast compound has potential for treating dry eye as well as other ophthalmic conditions.

Under the terms of the licensing agreement, GSK will receive an upfront payment and then additional payments based on the achievement of developmental milestones and the receipt of ophthalmic product approvals incorporating cilomilast. GSK also will receive royalties on future sales of products incorporating the compound. GSK will retain all rights to cilomilast for applications outside of ophthalmology and will retain a right to co-promote cilomilast to some physicians for ophthalmic indications.

Under the expanded agreement with Origenis, Alcon will retain the rights to any products for ophthalmic and nasal applications, and Origenis will retain certain rights to all other uses of drug candidates discovered during the alliance. Alcon will make research payments to Origenis through a series of development milestones and royalties on sales.