Amgen Acquires Apremilast (Otezla) from Celgene for $13.4 Billion to Strengthen Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Portfolio

On August 27, 2019, VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that global biotechnology giant Amgen announced the acquisition of Otezla (apremilast), a psoriasis treatment drug, for up to $13.4 billion. The drug was developed by international biopharmaceutical company Celgene and received FDA approval for market launch in 2014.

Upon completion of this acquisition, Amgen will obtain the global distribution rights for apremilast, continuing to expand the drug’s international market.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease caused by dysregulated immune responses. It follows a prolonged course with a tendency for recurrence, and some patients may never achieve a cure. The condition predominantly affects young and middle-aged adults, significantly impacting their physical health and mental well-being. There are approximately 14 million psoriasis patients in Europe, and the global patient population exceeds 125 million. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of the disease, accounting for about 80% of all cases. Additionally, approximately 30% of psoriasis patients may develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Apremilast tablets are a small-molecule inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4). Inhibition of PDE4 leads to an increase in intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels, thereby increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines and downregulating the inflammatory response.

Apremilast is currently approved in the United States for three indications, including psoriatic arthritis (PsA), moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, and oral ulcers associated with Behçet's syndrome. In addition to the United States, the drug is marketed in more than 50 other countries and regions.

Apremilast is the first oral medication approved for psoriasis in the past 20 years and the first oral drug approved for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in the past 15 years. The drug has experienced rapid sales growth, with total sales reaching $1.6 billion in 2018.

Celgene, founded in 1986 and headquartered in New Jersey, USA, is a leading enterprise in the biopharmaceutical industry. The company is dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative therapies, researching and developing novel immuno-oncology drugs and molecularly targeted agents to provide treatment solutions for patients with cancer and immune-inflammatory diseases. Celgene went public on the NASDAQ Stock Market in the United States in August 1987, under the stock ticker symbol CELG.

It is reported that in January 2019, Celgene was acquired by its rival Bristol-Myers Squibb for $74 billion.

Celgene primarily focuses on research into hard-to-treat hematologic cancers and solid tumors. The company’s medical experimental centers are conducting hundreds of clinical drug trials involving multiple myeloma (MM), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and melanoma, among others. Additionally, Celgene is evaluating therapeutic agents for severe inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Amgen, founded in 1980 and headquartered in California, USA, is one of the world’s largest biopharmaceutical companies. The company is primarily engaged in the discovery, research and development, manufacturing, and marketing of innovative medicines, committed to unlocking the potential of biotechnology and providing treatments for millions of patients with serious diseases. Amgen’s product portfolio spans multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, hematology, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, bone health, nephrology, and neuroscience. The company strives to unravel the complexity of diseases, laying the foundation for a deeper understanding of human biology.

Robert A. Bradway, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Amgen, stated: “The acquisition of Otezla will solidify Amgen’s leading position in the field of inflammation treatment and help us continue to expand our pharmaceutical market. Leveraging over 20 years of experience in treating inflammatory diseases, Amgen will provide patients with severe chronic inflammation with cost-effective, high-efficacy medications.”

(Compiled by Xu Xiaoxue)