BMS and Pfizer sign collaboration with Portola Pharmaceuticals

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Pfizer Inc. have entered into a collaboration agreement with Portola Pharmaceuticals Inc. to develop and commercialize the investigational agent andexanet alfa in Japan. Andexanet alfa, which is in Phase 3 clinical development in the U.S. and Europe, is designed to reverse the anticoagulant activity of Factor Xa inhibitors, including Eliquis (apixaban).

Under the terms of the agreement, Portola will receive an upfront payment of $15 million, potential regulatory milestones of $20 million and sales-based milestones of $70 million as well as compensation based on andexanet alfa net sales. Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer will co-fund with Portola the development and commercialization of andexanet alfa in Japan. Portola will retain rights to andexanet alfa outside of Japan and remain responsible for the manufacturing supply.

Andexanet alfa, an investigational drug, is a modified human Factor Xa molecule that acts as a decoy to target and sequester with high specificity both oral and injectable Factor Xa inhibitors in the blood. Once bound, the Factor Xa inhibitors are unable to bind to and inhibit native Factor Xa, thus allowing for the restoration of normal hemostatic processes. Andexanet alfa is the only compound being studied as a reversal agent for Factor Xa inhibitors that directly and specifically corrects anti-Factor Xa activity – the anticoagulant mechanism of these agents.