AstraZeneca and BMS expand alliance

AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) recently announced the expansion of their worldwide collaboration to include the development and commercialisation of Dapagliflozin in Japan. Dapagliflozin, one of two investigational drugs under joint development by the companies, is currently being studied in Phase III clinical trials in several countries, including the US, to assess its efficacy and safety as a once-daily treatment for Type-2 diabetes.

In January 2007, BMS and AstraZeneca entered into a global collaboration, excluding Japan, to enable the companies to research, develop and commercialise Dapagliflozin. "BMS and AstraZeneca have been working together to develop Dapagliflozin for Type 2 diabetes for nearly two years. This inclusion of Japan was a natural progression of our collaboration and an important strategic step in our relationship," said Lamberto Andreotti, executive vice president and chief operating officer, BMS.

The companies now have agreed to co-develop Dapagliflozin in Japan with AstraZeneca having operational and cost responsibility for all development and regulatory activities on behalf of the collaboration. The two companies will jointly market the product in Japan, sharing all commercialisation expenses and activities and splitting profits and losses equally. Bristol-Myers Squibb will manufacture Dapagliflozin and also book sales.