CHESHIRE, Conn. & CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALXN) and Cincinnati Children's
Hospital Medical Center today announced the establishment of a
collaboration and fund for the advancement of research in rare disease.
Cincinnati Children's is a recognized center of excellence in pediatric
rare diseases. Alexion is a global leader in the development and
delivery of breakthrough therapies for patients with severe and
life-threatening rare diseases. This collaboration leverages the
collective expertise of a leading pediatric hospital with a leading
biopharmaceutical company.
"Collaborations between industry and academia are important to drive
innovation for patients suffering from rare diseases and we look forward
to working with Cincinnati Children's to advance our research programs,
which are focused on developing life-transforming therapies for patients
with devastating disorders," said Martin Mackay, Ph.D., Executive Vice
President and Global Head of Research and Development at Alexion. "Our
Research and Development team is continually working to understand the
pathophysiology of severe and rare diseases so that we can identify and
investigate potential breakthrough therapies. Working with an
institution with the research experience and capabilities of Cincinnati
Children's will enhance our ability to accomplish this important goal."
"As an institution that not only treats and cares for patients suffering
from rare diseases but is also intensely interested in discovering
potential treatments for them, we look forward to the opportunity to
work with a company like Alexion, which brings tremendous expertise and
capabilities to the table," said Margaret Hostetter, M.D., incoming
Chief Medical Officer of Cincinnati Children's and Director, Cincinnati
Children's Research Foundation. "Our hope is that the Alexion Rare
Disease Innovation Fund can serve as a model for how industry and
academia can better work together to bring health innovations from the
bench to the bedside."
Under the terms of the agreement, Alexion will have the opportunity to
fund selected research programs through the Alexion Rare Disease
Innovation Fund. Following completion of the funded research programs,
Alexion will have an exclusive option to enter into a licensing
agreement for these programs.
The Alexion Fund is a focused opportunity within Cincinnati Children's
broader Innovation Fund, which covers all therapeutic areas and
technology types. Alexion will focus its selections based on the
company's specialty of developing new treatments for complex and rare
diseases.
The company decided to collaborate with Cincinnati Children's because of
the medical center's strength in rare- and complex-disease research.
Research programs selected for the Alexion Fund will receive funding
commensurate with project development needs and based on projects
reaching specific milestones.
Upon entering into any subsequent licensing agreement, Cincinnati
Children's will be eligible to receive certain development and
commercial milestone payments, as well as royalties on product sales
from Alexion. Alexion will have the primary responsibility for further
clinical development and commercialization of products arising from the
collaboration. The collaboration and Innovation Fund are managed by
Cincinnati Children's Center for Technology Commercialization.
About Alexion
Alexion is a biopharmaceutical company focused on serving patients with
severe and rare disorders through the innovation, development and
commercialization of life-transforming therapeutic products. Alexion is
the global leader in complement inhibition and has developed and markets
Soliris® (eculizumab) as a treatment for patients with paroxysmal
nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome
(aHUS), two debilitating, ultra-rare and life-threatening disorders
caused by chronic uncontrolled complement activation. Soliris is
currently approved in nearly 50 countries for the treatment of PNH and
in nearly 40 countries for the treatment of aHUS. Alexion is evaluating
other potential indications for Soliris in additional severe and
ultra-rare disorders beyond PNH and aHUS, and is developing other highly
innovative biotechnology product candidates, including asfotase alfa,
across multiple therapeutic areas. This press release and further
information about Alexion can be found at: www.alexionpharma.com.
[ALXN-G]
About Cincinnati Children's:
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ranks third in the nation
among all Honor Roll hospitals in U.S. News and World Report's 2014 Best
Children's Hospitals. It is also ranked in the top 10 for all 10
pediatric specialties. Cincinnati Children's, a non-profit organization,
is one of the top three recipients of pediatric research grants from the
National Institutes of Health, and a research and teaching affiliate of
the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The medical center is
internationally recognized for improving child health and transforming
delivery of care through fully integrated, globally recognized research,
education and innovation. Additional information can be found at www.cincinnatichildrens.org.
Connect on the Cincinnati Children's blog, via Facebook and on Twitter.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Kim Diamond, 203-439-9600
Senior
Director, Corporate Communications
or
Cincinnati Children's
Mike
Pistone, 814-403-7218
Marketing Manager, Center for Technology
Commercialization
Source: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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