Celltech link-up for bone treatment

12 April 2012

CELLTECH has unveiled a joint venture with American company Amgen for the research, development and global commercialisation of treatments for osteoporosis, the degenerative bone disease that affects large numbers of middle-aged women.

If successful, Celltech's treatment could reverse bone loss in patients. Under current methods, bone loss can be halted but not reversed.

The treatment is based on a protein, discovered by Celltech, that regulates bone deposition. The protein is called Sclerostin and clinical trials could be started in two years. The research programme is currently looking at validation and antibody generation activities.

Under the terms of the agreement, Amgen receives the worldwide rights to develop and market treatments targeting the Sclerostin protein. Celltech will pay a proportion of development costs.

Celltech shares were steady at 555p.

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