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Partnering is a fundamental part of POZEN’s Business Development strategy.  Through partnering, we intend to 1) supplement our self-innovated development portfolio by in-licensing new product candidates, and 2) out-license our progressed candidates to corporate partners for commercialization.

In-Licensing

We seek to in-license early-stage clinical compounds in the pain area where POZEN utilizes strategic outsourcing to efficiently develop products through Phase III.  We may also consider certain pre-clinical stage compounds that will complement our pain product portfolio, and meet our new product criteria:

POZEN’s New Product Criteria

  • A sound commercial and scientific opportunity
  • Low risk profile (clinical data preferred)
  • Manageable cash outlay for development
  • Ideally a development program of 4 years or less
  • Known endpoints for regulatory development

POZEN seeks in-licensing agreements which optimize the value of our assets and allow both POZEN and its partner to jointly benefit from commercialization success.  Our in-licensing deal structures include traditional upfront/milestone payments and royalties on future net sales.  We also have an innovative License-back Model in which the originator company maintains an option to reacquire the compound on predetermined terms when the compound is closer to market – i.e., when the development risk has been significantly reduced and the commercial potential can be better defined.

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Out-Licensing

POZEN intends to advance the development of all our product candidates through Phase III, and commercialize products through strategic alliances with industry partners.  We are currently seeking to out-license PA32540 (Phase II, "Safer Aspirin").

As a prospective partner, we hope you will fully explore what POZEN has to offer and contact us if there is an opportunity for us to work together.

AstraZeneca Collaboration

POZEN entered into a collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca on August 1, 2006 for the co-development and commercialization of proprietary fixed dose combinations of the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) esomeprazole magnesium, with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) naproxen, in a single tablet. This is the basis for the PN 400 program. The products will be indicated for the relief of the signs and symptoms associated with conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in patients who are at risk for developing NSAID-associated gastric ulcers.  In September 2007, POZEN and AstraZeneca amended certain terms of the August 2006 collaboration agreement. AstraZeneca will pay POZEN up to $345 million, in aggregate, for the achievement of development, regulatory, and sales milestones. POZEN received $30 million, which included recognition of successful proof of concept, $55 million will be paid upon achievement of certain development and regulatory milestones, and $260 will be paid as sales performance milestones if certain aggregate sales thresholds are achieved. In addition, POZEN will receive royalties on net sales.

GlaxoSmithkline Collaboration

In April 2008, the successful collaboration between POZEN and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) culminated in the approval of Treximet. The partnership began in 2003, when GSK signed an agreement with POZEN Inc. for the development and commercialization of this combination product. The deal terms include $80 million in upfront and certain development and regulatory milestone payments and an additional $80 million in sales performance milestones based on achievement of certain sales thresholds. Additionally, POZEN will receive royalties based on net sales. Treximet is expected to be available in U.S. pharmacies by mid-May.

Contact Us
POZEN Inc.
1414 Raleigh Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27517

Phone: (919) 913-1030
Fax: (919) 913-1039

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