Wyeth, Trubion Collaborate on Biopharma Compounds

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. have formed a strategic alliance for the discovery, development and commercialization of novel biopharmaceutical products to treat inflammatory disease and cancer. The alliance will utilize Trubion’s proprietary Small Modular Immunopharmaceutical (SMIP) technology. SMIPs are smaller than antibodies and can reach sites unavailable to larger molecules therefore the medicine is metabolized more slowly by the body suggesting less frequent dosing. These novel compounds can be expressed in mammalian cells and customized for many disease targets.

As part of the alliance, Wyeth and Trubion will collaborate on the development and commercialization of CD20-targeted therapies including TRU-015, a novel SMIP compound currently in phase II development for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). TRU-015 is also a promising compound for certain cancers with malignant B cells.

Trubion and Wyeth also will collaborate on a multi-target discovery program focused on the development of certain other biopharmaceutical products for major indications with unmet medical needs. Wyeth will receive worldwide rights to CD20-targeted SMIPs as will as SMIP product candidates from the discovery program. As part of the transaction, Trubion received an initial $40 million payment. Trubion will retain an option to co-promote CD20-targeted therapies in the U.S. for certain indications. Wyeth will be responsible for future development and commercialization costs for the alliance. The agreement also provides for additional payments to Trubion upon the achievement of certain development milestones, royalties on product sales, and a stock purchase when Trubion makes a qualified initial public offering. If all milestones are achieved the total payments to Trubion could exceed $800 million, excluding royalties and co-promotion fees.

“Wyeth is excited about the development of TRU-015 for RA as well as the potential application of TRU-015 in other chronic inflammatory and B cell mediated diseases,” says Robert R. Ruffolo, Ph.D., president, Wyeth R&D and senior vice president, Wyeth. “We are proud to partner with Trubion because of the high quality of their science in an area that matches well with two of Wyeth’s key therapeutic areas, inflammation and oncology.”