Alcon, Inc.
Alcon gains exclusive access to AstraZeneca's compound library for drug discovery and potential development in ophthalmology Companies hope to accelerate development of breakthrough therapies for eye disease Agreement brings together the largest eye care company with one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies
HUENENBERG, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 22, 2009--
Alcon
(NYSE: ACL)
announced today that it has entered into a five-year collaborative
research agreement with AstraZeneca for the exclusive ophthalmic
discovery and potential development rights to AstraZeneca’s compound
library. The agreement matches Alcon’s specific ophthalmic research
capability with AstraZeneca’s rich drug libraries and covers multiple
classes of small molecules with lead compounds that already have been
identified to have a strong scientific rationale for utility in
ophthalmic disease. The two companies are targeting development of drugs
to treat sight-threatening conditions such as glaucoma, wet and dry
age-related macular degeneration and other retinal diseases, as well as
ocular allergy, dry eye and other inflammatory eye conditions.
“Our agreement with AstraZeneca stems from our strategy of enhanced
access to sources of technologies and compounds through partnership with
leading biomedical research organizations,” said Sabri Markabi, M.D.,
Alcon’s senior vice president of research and development and chief
medical officer. “The combination of AstraZeneca’s broad capabilities in
discovery and Alcon’s scientific expertise in eye disease provides
potential for therapies that fulfil unmet medical needs in
ophthalmology.”
“Alcon and AstraZeneca share a common goal to use leading-edge science
to deliver medicines that will benefit patients,” said Jan Lundberg,
AstraZeneca’s executive vice president of global discovery research. "We
are constantly looking for new opportunities to maximize our strong
early pipeline and this collaboration is proof of its value beyond the
therapy areas for which AstraZeneca is renowned.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Alcon obtains immediate access to
thousands of AstraZeneca compounds in a variety of drug classes.
AstraZeneca will hand over development and regulatory documentation
associated with each compound as relevant to ophthalmology. Alcon will
perform and fund all research and development activities to move
selected compounds forward. The agreement provides for individual
license agreements to be negotiated on a case by case basis for any
compound that moves into clinical development, including regulatory
milestone payments and royalties on product sales. The agreement does
not preclude Alcon from pursuing compounds it develops itself or
licenses from other companies prior to the initiation of Phase III
confirmatory clinical studies.
“This strategic partnership represents an extraordinary opportunity to
bring Alcon’s global leadership in the field of ophthalmology together
with AstraZeneca’s world-class basic research capability to advance
treatments in eye care,” said Kevin Buehler, Alcon’s president and chief
executive officer. “I believe this partnership will not only benefit
both parties, but will also lead to new therapies that reduce the
incidence of blindness around the world.”
About Alcon
Alcon, Inc. is the world’s leading eye care company, with sales of
approximately $6.3 billion in 2008. Alcon, which has been dedicated to
the ophthalmic industry for 65 years, researches, develops, manufactures
and markets pharmaceuticals, surgical equipment and devices, contacts
lens solutions and other vision care products that treat diseases,
disorders and other conditions of the eye. Alcon operates in 75
countries and sells products in 180 markets. Alcon’s majority
shareholder is Nestlé, S.A., the world’s largest food company. For more
information on Alcon, Inc., visit the Company’s web site at
www.alcon.com.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the
research, development, manufacturing and marketing of meaningful
prescription medicines and supplier for healthcare services. AstraZeneca
is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare
sales of $31.6 billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal,
cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infectious
disease medicines. For more information about AstraZeneca, please visit: www.astrazeneca.com.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements. This press
release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any
forward-looking statements reflect the views of our management as of the
date of this press release with respect to future events and are based
on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these
uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required under the
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Securities and Exchange Commission, we undertake no obligation to
publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements,
whether to reflect new information or future events or circumstances or
otherwise.
Source: Alcon, Inc.
Alcon, Inc.
Doug MacHatton, 817-551-8974
[email protected]
www.alcon.com