Shire and Sangamo Cut a Deal - Analyst Blog
February 07 2012 - 9:45AM
Zacks
Shire plc (SHPGY)
and Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. (SGMO) recently
entered into a collaboration and license agreement for the
development of products for hemophilia and other monogenic
diseases. These products will be developed using Sangamo’s zinc
finger DNA-binding protein (”ZFP”) technology.
Terms of the
Deal
Shire will make an upfront payment
of $13 million to Sangamo. Sangamo will also be eligible to receive
milestone payments of up to $213.5 million based on the achievement
of research, regulatory, development and commercial targets. Shire
will pay Sangamo tiered double-digit royalties on product
sales.
As per the agreement, Shire will
get exclusive global rights to ZFP therapeutics designed to target
4 genes for investigating curative therapies for hemophilia A and
B. Shire also gets the right to designate 3 additional gene
targets.
While Sangamo will undertake all
responsibilities till the submission of an Investigational New Drug
("IND") application or European Clinical Trial Application ("CTA"),
Shire will reimburse Sangamo’s program-related costs (both external
and internal).
This deal is in line with the
company’s strategy of pursuing bolt-on acquisitions and alliances
to expand its pipeline. In January, the company acquired the US
rights of Resolor from Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., a
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) company.
Shire is facing generic threats for
several of its key marketed products. The company is already facing
generic competition for Adderall XR, one of its top
revenue-generating products. Teva Pharmaceutical
Industries, Ltd. (TEVA) and Impax Laboratories,
Inc. (IPXL) had launched generic versions of Adderall XR
in April 2009 and October 2009, respectively.
Vyvanse, currently the top revenue
grosser at Shire, is also facing patent challenges. Six companies,
including Sandoz, Inc., Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Watson
Laboratories (WPI), Roxane Laboratories, Inc.,
Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (MYL) and Actavis
Elizabeth LLC and Actavis Inc. (both together) have filed ANDAs for
their generic versions of Vyvanse. Shire has filed patent
infringement lawsuits against all these companies.
Shire is currently fighting patent
infringement lawsuits for several of its other products as well
including Intuniv, Fosrenol and Lialda.
Our
Recommendation
We currently have a Neutral
recommendation on Shire. The stock carries a Zacks #3 Rank (hold
rating) in the short run.
Shire’s recent collaborations and
acquisitions (including Movetis and Advanced BioHealing Inc.) have
added immense potential to its pipeline. With several of its
products already facing or likely to face generic competition, the
company’s pipeline needs to deliver.
IMPAX LABORATRS (IPXL): Free Stock Analysis Report
MYLAN INC (MYL): Free Stock Analysis Report
SANGAMO BIOSCI (SGMO): Free Stock Analysis Report
SHIRE PLC-ADR (SHPGY): Free Stock Analysis Report
WATSON PHARMA (WPI): Free Stock Analysis Report
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