AstraZeneca revises Linzess deal with Ironwood Pharmaceuticals

AstraZeneca has revised its agreement with Ironwood Pharmaceuticals for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) drug Linzess (linaclotide). Linzess is a guanylate cyclase-C (GC-C) agonist, which activates the GC-C receptor, leading to improved secretion of intestinal fluid and transit and a decrease in the activity of intestine’s pain-sensing nerves. The drug received the Chinese National Medical Products Administration approval for adult patients in January. It is expected to be commercially available in the country by the end of the year. AstraZeneca first signed an agreement with Ironwood in 2012 to co-develop and co-commercialise the drug. While the companies had joint responsibility for strategic development and commercialisation in China, AstraZeneca was primarily responsible for the implementation of local operations. Under the revised deal, AstraZeneca will carry full responsibility to develop, manufacture and commercialise Linzess in China mainland, China Hong Kong and China Macau. Ironwood will not be involved in research and development or commercialisation and will handover the manufacturing responsibility to AstraZeneca.