Ironwood and AstraZeneca joining forces to co-develop Linaclotide in China

A few days ago, Ironwood and AstraZeneca had announced that they will be co-developing and co-commercializing Ironwood’s late stage testing drug, Linaclotide, in China. It is the first and only guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) agonist that got approved by US Food and Drug Administration. It is to be used as the treatment for adult patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). Patients suffering this will have symptoms of abdominal pain and constipation and currently there are little treatment selection for this functional gastrointestinal disorder in China.

An upfront payment of $25 million will be made to Ironwood by AstraZeneca China as according to the the terms. Also, both companies will divide the net profit and losses of linaclotide in China, with AstraZeneca China being responsible for 55% of each. This will continue until this collaboration attained at a designated phase and then both will share the responsible respectively. In addition, Ironwood will also be entitled for $125 million which is subjected to the achievement of certain sales objectives.

Adding on to this deal, 160 experienced clinical sales individuals from Ironwood would be committed into promoting AstraZeneca’s NEXIUM® (esomeprazole magnesium) in the US. This can help Ironwood to increase their exposure and presence to gastrointestinal physicians in US and also providing physicians two types of effective treatment for gastrointestinal disorders.

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