Amgen and Servier complete product collaboration transaction

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) and Servier today announced the early termination of the waiting period under the Hart–Scott–Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 in connection with the cardiovascular product collaboration agreement announced on July 8, 2013, completing the transaction.

Under the terms of the agreement, Amgen has obtained commercial rights in the U.S. to Servier’s novel oral drug, approved in the EU as Procoralan® (ivabradine), for chronic heart failure and stable angina in patients with elevated heart rates. Amgen has also received an exclusive option to develop and commercialize Servier’s investigational molecule, S38844, for cardiovascular diseases in the U.S. Currently, S38844 is in Phase 2 studies for the treatment of heart failure. Through the collaboration, Servier has obtained an exclusive option to commercialize omecamtiv mecarbil in Europe. Omecamtiv mecarbil is an activator of cardiac myosin, which is currently being tested for potential applications in the treatment of heart failure in patients with systolic dysfunction.