Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has signed an agreement with US-based Forest Laboratories to develop drugs to treat chronic inflammatory conditions. Under the agreement, Forest will make a $6 million upfront payment to Glenmark and provide an additional $3 million to support the next phase of work.
The collaboration between Glenmark Pharmaceuticals SA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mumbai-based pharma major and Forest Labs will develop novel mPGES-1 inhibitors to treat chronic inflammatory conditions, including pain.
"Glenmark has identified clinical candidates and is currently conducting pre-clinical studies and other development activities required to support the initiation of first-in-human dosing," said the company statement. Forest has an exclusive option to obtain licence rights to the programme, will make other future payments in FY14 to support the advancement of the ongoing mPGES-1 inhibitors programme.
In 2010, the clinical trial of Glenmark's Oglemilast for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, out-licensed to Forest Labs, had failed to generate positive results. Similarly, in October 2008, Eli Lilly suspended clinical trials of pain drug molecule GRC 6211, out-licensed by Glenmark.
