An Australian pharmaceutical company announced Wednesday it has secured exclusive rights to develop a potentially groundbreaking treatment for heart complications in patients with severe kidney disease.
CSL entered into a licensing deal with pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co, obtaining rights to develop and market clazakizumab, an antibody designed to reduce cardiovascular illness and death in patients with end-stage kidney disease.
Under the agreement, CSL will pay Eli Lilly $100 million upfront and could provide additional payments based on clinical trial results, regulatory approvals, and commercial success. The Australian company would also pay royalties on worldwide sales of the drug.
The treatment works by blocking a protein called IL-6 from connecting to its receptor, potentially reducing inflammation that contributes to disease progression in immune and inflammatory disorders, according to CSL.
“Clazakizumab is a promising therapeutic candidate with the potential to significantly impact the treatment landscape for various immuno-inflammatory and cardiovascular conditions,” said Bill Mezzanotte, head of research and development at CSL.
The Australian biotechnology company noted that finalizing the agreement depends on meeting standard closing requirements.
