Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the hemophilia-related assets of a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, Archemix, and entered into an exclusive license agreement for certain related intellectual property assets.
The lead product associated with the arrangement is ARC19499, a synthetic, subcutaneously-administered hemophilia therapy currently in a Phase I clinical trial in the UK. ARC19499 blocks Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor (TFPI) activity, thereby augmenting and improving blood clotting, potentially reducing replacement factor therapy for patients with hemophilia A and B.
"Baxter is committed to optimizing hemophilia care and improving the lives of people living with hemophilia around the world," said Hartmut Ehrlich, M.D., vice president, global research and development and medical affairs, for Baxter's BioScience business. "This anti-TFPI program is an important addition to other Baxter hemophilia development programs focusing on longer-acting rFVIII and rFIX and non-intravenous therapies."
Baxter expects to record a special pre-tax in-process research and development charge of approximately $30 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 relating to an upfront payment associated with the transaction. In the future, Baxter may also make milestone-related payments to Archemix of up to $285 million. Subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions, the companies expect to complete the transaction by year-end.
Baxter plans to create two independent global healthcare companies