Alexion Pharma to acquire clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm Achillion

New Delhi: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. recently announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for Alexion to acquire Achillion, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of oral small molecule Factor D inhibitors to treat people with complement alternative pathway-mediated rare diseases, such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and C3 glomerulopathy (C3G).

As per a recent media release by Alexion, Achillion currently has two clinical-stage medicines in development, including Danicopan (ACH4471) in Phase 2 and ACH-5228 in Phase 1

Commenting on the same, Ludwig Hantson, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Alexion said, “Alexion has demonstrated the transformative impact that inhibiting C5 can have on multiple rare and devastating diseases. However, we believe this is just the beginning of what’s possible with complement inhibition.”

“Targeting a different part of the complement system – the alternative pathway – by inhibiting Factor D production addresses uncontrolled complement activation further upstream in the complement cascade, and importantly, leaves the rest of the complement system intact, which is critical in maintaining the body’s ability to fight infection. We believe this approach has the opportunity to help patients with diseases not currently addressed through C5 inhibition. We look forward to applying our nearly three decades of complement and development expertise to unlock the potential of oral Factor D inhibitors and bring these benefits to patients, ” Hantson added.

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“We have established great momentum – discovering and advancing several small molecules into clinical development that have the potential to treat immune-related diseases associated with the alternative pathway of the complement system,” said Joe Truitt, President, and Chief Executive Officer at Achillion.

“Having already demonstrated proof-of-concept and proof of-mechanism with our lead candidate, Danicopan (ACH-4471), in PNH and C3G, respectively, we believe there is a significant opportunity for Factor D inhibition in the treatment of other diseases as well. Alexion is an established leader in developing medicines for complement-mediated diseases, and we look forward to working together to accelerate our objective of bringing novel therapies to patients as quickly as possible and ensuring that the broad promise of this approach is fully realized. We thank our employees, investigators and partners for their incredible work and commitment.”

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