AbbVie Takes Control of Cystic Fibrosis Research Program

Rare Daily Staff

AbbVie said it will assume full development and commercial responsibility for its collaboration with Galapagos to discover and develop new therapies to treat cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that affects the lungs, pancreas, and other vital organs, and may result in serious complications or death. More than 70,000 people worldwide are living with CF, with approximately 1,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Typically diagnosed in early childhood, more than half of people living with CF above 18 years of age and generally have a 50 percent shorter average lifespan compared to the general population.

Currently in early clinical development, the triple-combination therapy program consists of mechanistically distinct drug-candidates, which collectively increase the activity of the mutated copies of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein that causes cystic fibrosis.

“Our recent work has resulted in advancements that have broadened our understanding of the molecular and genetic basis of this disease,” said Michael Severino, executive vice president of research and development and chief scientific officer for AbbVie. “Our previous work with Galapagos has identified a number of promising candidates and we thank them for their contribution to our partnership.”

Under the revised agreement, AbbVie will assume full development and commercial responsibility over the investigational program comprising several clinical and pre-clinical compounds originally discovered and developed jointly by AbbVie and Galapagos. Galapagos will not pursue further research and development in cystic fibrosis, but is eligible for future milestones and royalties on commercialized programs. Galapagos retains the right to future development of GLPG-2737 in non-cystic fibrosis indications, and is eligible to receive undisclosed future milestones and royalties in those indications.

October 25, 2018
Photo: Michael Severino, executive vice president of research and development and chief scientific officer for AbbVie