Dive Brief:
- Amgen and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have reached a deal in which Amgen will reacquire sales rights to three drugs—Prolia, XGeva and Vectibix—in 48 countries. Amgen views many of these countries as key markets for expanding its growth.
- These drugs earned Glaxo $111 million in combined sales last year.
- Amgen will make undisclosed milestone payments to GSK.
Dive Insight:
Amgen is looking to expand its presence in key territories, including Brazil, China, Israel, South Korea, and Thailand. This 'reversal' deal points to Amgen's desire to gain more leverage in untapped markets and position itself in areas with higher disease prevalence.
For example, according to a report from Market Realist, both Prolia (for treatment of osteoporosis in women at risk of fracture) and Xgeva (used to prevent fracture in women with bone metastases) are blockbuster drugs. One in three women with osteoporosis is taking Prolia. But market penetration is not yet complete. Amgen's goal is to increase penetration in countries with an existing presence, while also moving more aggressively into countries in Asia and Latin America.