Ilypsa and Astellas Enter a Licensing Agreement on ILY101 for Treatment of Hyperphosphatemia in Japan.Santa Clara and Tokyo, Japan, Apr 27, 2006 - (JCN JCN Japan Corporate News JCN Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience JCN Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing JCN Journal of Christian Nursing JCN Job Control Number JCN Journal of Child Neurology JCN joint communications network (US DoD) Newswire) - Ilypsa, Inc. and Astellas Pharma Inc. announced today that they have entered into a license agreement that gives Astellas exclusive rights to develop and market ILY101 in Japan, a drug to treat hyperphosphatemia which was discovered by and is under development by Ilypsa. Hyperphosphatemia is associated with abnormally high blood concentrations of phosphorus. Normally, phosphorus in the body is excreted into urine via the kidneys, but this process is impaired when renal function is reduced. Hyperphosphatemia occurs in many patients with renal insufficiency renal insufficiency A defect in renal ability to 'clear' waste products, a sign of inadequate glomerular filtration , especially those on dialysis. High blood phosphorus concentration triggers various complications caused by phosphorous phos·pho·rous adj. Of, relating to, or containing phosphorus, especially with a valence of 3 or a valence lower than that of a comparable phosphoric compound. interaction with blood calcium blood calcium, n the level of calcium in the blood plasma, generally regulated by parathyroid gland activity in conjunction with the degree of calcium ingestion, absorption, use, and excretion. Normal value is 8.5 to 11.5 mg/100 ml of blood serum. or parathyroid hormones, and makes patients more prone to calcium deposition in soft tissues such as the coronary arteries Coronary arteries The two main arteries that provide blood to the heart. The coronary arteries surround the heart like a crown, coming out of the aorta, arching down over the top of the heart, and dividing into two branches. , increasing the risk of ischemic heart disease Ischemic heart disease Insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle (myocardium). Mentioned in: Myocarditis ischemic heart disease . ILY101 is a non-absorbed, metal-free polymer that binds phosphorus in the gastrointestinal tract gastrointestinal tract n. The part of the digestive system consisting of the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Gastrointestinal tract , allowing for excretion of phosphorus. It is therefore anticipated to ameliorate hyperphosphatemia by reducing the absorption of phosphorus from the gastrointestinal tract. "We are delighted to enter into partnership with Ilypsa on ILY101,"said Toichi Takenaka, Ph.D., President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Astellas. "ILY101, with its unique profile, is an important addition to our product portfolio in the ethical pharmaceutical business in Japan. I believe ILY101 will contribute to physicians and patients by offering a new option for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia." "We are excited to have attracted a leading partner such as Astellas for the development and commercialization of ILY101 in Japan. Astellas has the proven pharmaceutical experience to enable an accelerated path for bringing this innovative compound to patients in Japan where there is significant medical need," said Jay P. Shepard, President and CEO, Ilypsa, Inc. Under this agreement, Astellas will pay Ilypsa a total of US$ 92 million, including an upfront payment of US$ 22 million, as well as royalties in the mid-teen range on future sales of the drug in Japan. A Phase 1 clinical trial phase 1 clinical trial Phase 1 study. See Phase study. for Japan will be started during fiscal year 2006. Ilypsa has recently completed its Phase 1 clinical trial of ILY101 in the US and intends to initiate a Phase 2 study in chronic kidney disease Chronic kidney disease (CKD), also know as chronic renal disease, is a progressive loss of renal function over a period of months or years through five stages. Each stage is a progression through an abnormally low and progressively worse glomerular filtration rate, which is patients with hyperphosphatemia within the next few months. About Astellas Pharma Inc. Astellas Pharma Inc., located in Tokyo, Japan, is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. In April 2005, the company was formed through the merger of Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The organization is committed to becoming a global mega pharmaceutical company by combining outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities and continuing to grow in the world pharmaceutical market. For more information on Astellas Pharma Inc., please visit the company's website at www.astellas.com. About Ilypsa, Inc. Ilypsa, Inc. is a privately held biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing a pipeline of next-generation renal care pharmaceutical products. Pioneering the use of a proprietary high throughput discovery and development platform created and validated at Symyx Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: SMMX), Ilypsa has rapidly created non-absorbed polymeric phosphate and potassium binder compounds to treat chronic kidney and metabolic diseases. To date, Ilypsa has raised $46 million in a Series A and a Series B round of financing. Investors include NLV NLV Norwalk-Like Virus NLV North Las Vegas (Nevada) NLV National Language Version NLV National Library of Vietnam NLV Nanosat Launch Vehicle NLV New Living Version (version of the Bible) Partners, 5AM Ventures, US Venture Partners, Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation and Delphi Ventures. For more information, please visit www.ilypsa.com. Source: Astellas Pharma Inc.Ilypsa, Inc. Contact: Ilypsa Contact: Gerrit Klaerner, Ph.D. VP, Business and Corporate Development Tel.: +1-408-215-2826 Astellas Contact: Akihiro Tanaka, Ph.D. VP, Corporate Communications Tel.: +81-3-3244-3201 Copyright [c] 2006 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network K.K. |
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