Roche discontinued its agreement with PDL BioPharma to jointly develop and commercialize Daclizumab for organ transplant patients. Roche made this decision subsequent to a review of its development programs. The co-development agreement between PDL and Roche will formally terminate in May.
As a result, PDL will hold exclusive development and commercial rights to Daclizumab for transplant maintenance.
"We are evaluating the overall transplant maintenance indication opportunity for daclizumab, while we continue to support the ongoing studies of daclizumab in relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis, and anticipate results from the ongoing Phase II study, which is testing daclizumab in combination with beta-interferon, during 2007," said Mark McDade, CEO, PDL BioPharma. "In the meantime, efforts are ongoing to evaluate partnership opportunities for this important drug in asthma."