The UK’s Clinigen Group has bought global rights to rare disease therapy Imukin from Horizon Pharma, for an undisclosed amount.
Imukin (recombinant human interferon gamma-1b) is currently licensed in 19 countries around the globe to reduce the frequency of serious infections in patients with Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) and for the treatment of Severe Malignant Osteopetrosis (SMO).
CGD is a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders in which certain cells of the immune system have difficulty forming the reactive oxygen compounds necessary to kill certain ingested pathogens, that usually begin early in life and may lead to death in childhood.
SMO is a rare congenital disorder caused by the failure of osteoclasts to resorb immature bone, and characterised by frequent fractures, visual impairment and bone marrow failure. If left untreated, most patients die during the first decade of life due to recurrent infections.
Imukin is used for its action as a macrophage-stimulating factor as an adjunct to antimicrobial therapy in CGD, and to reduce the frequency of serious infections in patients with SMO.
Clinigen says it intends to “revitalise” the therapy by working with healthcare professionals “to ensure its benefits to patients are well understood”.
The Group also plans to make the medicine available to those who need it through its global distribution network for both licensed and unlicensed supply, it said.
“Imukin strengthens our commercial offering and represents a good strategic fit with our medicines portfolio growth strategy focused on products in oncology and rare diseases,” noted Shaun Chilton, group chief executive, commenting on the move.
