Schering AG and AstraZeneca Form Strategic Alliance to Develop Novel Anti-Cancer Drug
September 15 2006 - 3:32AM
PR Newswire (US)
Companies Will Collaborate to Develop and Commercialize a Novel
Selective Estrogen Receptor Downregulator (SERD) for the Treatment
of Breast Cancer BERLIN, September 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Schering AG, Germany (FSE: SCH, NYSE: SHR) and AstraZeneca have
formed an alliance to co-develop and jointly commercialize Schering
AG's novel SERD. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies
will jointly develop the novel SERD with AstraZeneca leading the
clinical development and Schering leading the non-clinical and
process development as well as manufacturing activities. The
companies will co-promote the product in the major territories. All
development and commercialization costs and global profits will be
shared equally. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"The development of agents that selectively down regulate the
estrogen receptor is an exciting and important advance in the
treatment of breast cancer. This novel SERD has the potential to
offer a specific and targeted therapy approach for women with
breast cancer," said Peter Zundorf, Head of Schering Group's
Oncology Global Business Unit. "We look forward to the
collaboration with AstraZeneca. This collaboration reinforces our
strong commitment to oncology. It is our intent to fully exploit
this innovative compound and to maximize its value with joint
forces." John Patterson, Executive Vice President, Development of
AstraZeneca, said, "This agreement further strengthens
AstraZeneca's pipeline and builds on AstraZeneca's leading position
in the anti-hormonal disease area. The novel SERD has the potential
to deliver significant benefit to patients with estrogen-dependent
cancers: the lead indication will be breast cancer. We are
delighted to be working with Schering and will build upon our
existing excellent relationship through collaboration in the area
of anti-inflammatory research." About SERDs The growth and
progression of many breast cancers are stimulated by the steroid
hormone, estrogen. It has been known for many years that the
actions of this hormone are mediated by estrogen receptors (ER)
that are present in breast cancer cells and the signaling pathways
initiated by the ER are some of the best understood in oncology.
There are several existing targeted approaches that either inhibit
the action of the ER or prevent the synthesis of estrogen. However,
resistance to anti-hormonal treatment is a major problem in the
treatment of breast cancer and most advanced tumors eventually
become resistant to this type of therapy. The selective estrogen
receptor downregulators (SERDs) such as the novel SERD, which is in
preclinical development, are a new class of compounds with a novel
mechanism of action. They increase the rate at which the ER protein
is degraded which reduces the amount of ER available to interact
with other intracellular signalling pathways known to be involved
in resistance to hormone treatment. The SERDs can potentially be
used as monotherapy for treatment of all stages of
hormone-sensitive breast cancer or in combination with other
targeted agents for the prevention and/or treatment of hormone
resistant disease. About Schering AG Schering AG is a
research-based pharmaceutical company. Its activities are focused
on four business areas: Gynecology&Andrology, Oncology,
Diagnostic Imaging as well as Specialized Therapeutics for
disabling diseases. As a global player with innovative products,
Schering AG aims for leading positions in specialized markets
worldwide. With in-house R&D and supported by an excellent
global network of external partners, Schering AG is securing a
promising product pipeline. In Oncology, Schering AG maintains a
prominent leadership position by offering a range of hematological
and solid tumor treatments. Schering AG is strongly invested in
bringing to market an innovative and broad oncology R&D
portfolio of systemic and targeted therapies, potentially offering
novel therapeutic options for people with cancer. Using new ideas,
Schering AG aims to make a recognized contribution to medical
progress and strives to improve the quality of life: making
medicine work Find additional information at:
http://www.schering.de/eng About AstraZeneca AstraZeneca is a major
international healthcare business engaged in the research,
development, manufacture and marketing of prescription
pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of
the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales
of $23.95 billion and leading positions in sales of
gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory,
oncology and infection products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow
Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.
This press release has been published by Corporate Communication of
Schering AG, Berlin, Germany. Certain statements in this press
release that are neither reported financial results nor other
historical information are forward-looking statements, including
but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate
future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should
not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are
subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be
affected by other factors that could cause actual results and
Schering AG's plans and objectives to differ materially from those
expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Certain
factors that may cause such differences are discussed in our Form
20-F and Form 6-K reports filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. Schering AG undertakes no obligation to update
publicly or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether
to reflect new information or future events or circumstances or
otherwise. Your contacts at Schering AG: Media Relations: Oliver
Renner, T: +49-30-468-124-31, Investor Relations: Peter Vogt, T:
+49-30-468-128-38, Pharma Communication: Astrid Kranz, T:
+49-30-468-120-57, Your contacts at AstraZeneca: Media Enquiries:
Edel McCaffrey, Tel: +44-207-304-5034 Media Enquiries: Steve Brown,
Tel: +44-207-304-5033 DATASOURCE: Schering AG CONTACT: Your
contacts at Schering AG: Media Relations: Oliver Renner, T:
+49-30-468-124-31, . Investor Relations: Peter Vogt, T:
+49-30-468-128-38, . Pharma Communication: Astrid Kranz, T:
+49-30-468-120-57, . Your contacts at AstraZeneca: Media Enquiries:
Edel McCaffrey, Tel: +44-207-304-5034, Media Enquiries: Steve
Brown, Tel: +44-207-304-5033
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