AbbVie, Alvine To Develop Celiac Therapy

AbbVie and Alvine Pharmaceuticals have entered into a global collaboration to develop an oral treatment for celiac disease. ALV003, currently in Phase II development, is an investigational therapy composed of two recombinant, gluten-specific enzymes, and has been shown to reduce the symptoms and intestinal injury associated with celiac disease.
 
AbbVie will make an initial upfront payment of $70 million for an exclusive option to either acquire the ALV003 assets, or gain equity in the company. Alvine will maintain responsibility for Phase II development. Upon successful completion, AbbVie may exercise its option. Alvine will also be entitled to receive an undisclosed milestone payment upon AbbVie’s initiation of Phase III development.
 
“Celiac disease is an area with significant unmet medical need,” said Scott Brun, M.D., vice president, pharmaceutical development, AbbVie. “Patients who currently are unable to completely avoid gluten in their diets could potentially benefit from this promising investigational treatment. AbbVie has significant experience within immunology and gastroenterology and the exclusive option to acquire this asset complements AbbVie’s broad mid-stage pipeline.”
 
“A collaboration between Alvine and AbbVie combines our respective strengths and expertise in the development of what could become the first therapeutic option for this major unmet medical need,” said Abhay Joshi, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, Alvine. “We are pleased to have an industry leader in gastroenterology as a collaborator, whose considerable global development reach can be focused on getting this novel therapy to more patients.”