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Print Edition StoriesWednesday, June 17, 2009
Court order: Biogen, Genentech deal stands
By Mass High Tech staff
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An arbitration panel has decided that, per terms of its collaboration agreement, Biogen Idec Inc. has legal rights to be included in development decisions made by Genentech Inc. surrounding Rituxan (rituximab), used for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis treatment, and other anti-CD20 antibodies. The decision stems from Genentech’s contention that Biogen Inc.’s 2003 merger with IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corp. dissolved the validity of the Biogen-Genentech collaboration, which began in 1995.
To make the collaboration work, three members in a joint development committee must have unanimous agreement on development decisions; in case of divided agreement, Genentech is required to halt any developments associated with other monoclonal antibodies such as 2H7v16 in neuromyelitis optica and in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, as well as 2H7v114 for oncology. Genentech may still continue its clinical trial of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus treatment, 2H7.
Last November, Biogen Idec (Nasdaq: BIIB) agreed to pay Genentech Inc. (NYSE: DNA) $31.5 million up front in a research and development deal involving an antibody that Genentech recently took on as part of an acquisition. The two companies entered into a collaboration with a new blood cancer molecule, GA101, previously owned by Roche Holding AG.
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