Ironwood & Depomed Announce Collaboration, Research & License Agreement

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Depomed, Inc. recently announced that Ironwood has licensed worldwide rights to utilize Depomed’s Acuform gastric-retentive drug delivery technology for an Ironwood early stage development program, continuing Ironwood’s efforts to augment its development pipeline beyond linaclotide. Under the terms of the agreement, Depomed will assist with initial product formulation, and Ironwood will be responsible for all development and commercialization of the product. Depomed will be paid an upfront license fee and will receive additional payments pending achievement of certain development and regulatory milestones, as well as royalties on product sales.

“We are pleased to contribute our Acuform technology and drug delivery expertise to Ironwood’s development effort, and add an important new partner to our Acuform franchise strategy,” said Thadd Vargas, Depomed’s Senior Vice President, Business Development. “We are very excited to collaborate with Ironwood on this new non GC-C related gastrointestinal disorder program.”

“Ironwood is keen to pursue appropriate collaborations that will create value and leverage each party’s area of expertise,” added Jim O’Mara, Ironwood’s Vice President, Corporate Development. “We believe the Acuform technology is highly complementary to our internal effort to create differentiated medicines and provides Ironwood with the opportunity to continue to build a portfolio of development candidates through both internal and external R&D.”

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals is an entrepreneurial pharmaceutical company dedicated to the art and science of great drug-making. Linaclotide, Ironwood’s GC-C agonist, is in Phase III clinical development for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic constipation. The efficacy portion of linaclotide’s development program has been completed and will support the NDA submission for both indications, as well as the MAA submission for the IBS-C indication. Ironwood also has a growing pipeline of additional drug candidates in earlier stages of development.

Depomed, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company with one approved product on the market and another recently approved product. Gralise (gabapentin) is a once-daily treatment approved for the management of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Glumetza (metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets) is approved for use in adults with type 2 diabetes and promoted by Santarus, Inc. in the US. The company also has a robust pipeline including Serada, which is in Phase III clinical development for menopausal hot flashes, as well as earlier stage candidates. Depomed formulates its products and product candidates with its proven, proprietary Acuform drug delivery technology, which is designed to improve existing oral medications, allowing for controlled release of medications to the upper gastrointestinal tract when dosed with food.