Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has signed an agreement with US-based Forest Laboratories to develop drugs to treat chronic inflammatory conditions. Under the agreement, Forest Labs will make an upfront payment of $6 million 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 the 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 in a statement.
Forest, which has an exclusive option to obtain licence rights to the programme upon completion of phase 1 clinical trials, will make other future payments in FY 2014 to support the advancement of the ongoing mPGES-1 inhibitors programme, the Glenmark statement added.
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.
