Incyte signs collaboration and licensing agreement with Novartis

Incyte, a US-based drug discovery and development company, has entered into a collaboration and licensing agreement with Swiss pharmaceutical group Novartis for two of its investigational hematology-oncology therapies: INCB18424, an oral JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor that is in Phase III development for myelofibrosis, and INCB28060, an oral cMET inhibitor that is about to enter Phase I development as a potential treatment for multiple cancers.

Under the terms of the agreement, Incyte will retain exclusive rights for the development and potential commercialization of INCB18424 in the US. Novartis will have responsibility for the future development and commercialization of INCB18424 in all hematology-oncology indications outside of the US. Novartis will also be responsible for the future worldwide development of INCB28060.

Novartis will make an upfront payment of $150 million to Incyte plus an immediate $60 million milestone payment for the initiation of the European Phase III trial of INCB18424, Comfort-II, that began in July 2009. Novartis will receive ex-US commercialization rights for Incyte's lead JAK inhibitor and global commercialization rights for the cMET inhibitor. Each company will be responsible for costs in their respective territories for the JAK inhibitor, with costs of collaborative studies shared equally.

Incyte may also be eligible over time for additional payments of up to approximately $1.1 billion if future contingent development and commercialization milestones are achieved. Incyte is also eligible to receive tiered, double-digit royalty payments on future ex-US INCB18424 sales.

Novartis will be responsible for all costs and activities for the cMET inhibitor after the Phase I clinical trial. Incyte is eligible to receive royalties on future sales of INCB28060 and has retained an option to co-develop and co-promote INCB28060.

Paul Friedman, president and CEO of Incyte, said: "This agreement reflects our objective to retain US rights to INCB18424 and puts us in a strong position to transition Incyte into a successful commercial company with sufficient resources to continue to advance other promising compounds in our pipeline. Additionally, the appreciation from Novartis for INCB18424's potential to treat the unmet patient need in myelofibrosis and other cancers, and their proven success in rapidly commercializing new targeted oncology treatments, were determining factors in our decision to choose Novartis as our collaborative partner."

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