Allergan acquires rights to Constella, Linzess

Allergan and Ironwood announced that Allergan has acquired rights to Constella in the European Union, Switzerland, Turkey and the Commonwealth of Independent States, and has reacquired rights to Linzess in Mexico from Almirall.

According to a press release, the terms of the agreement entail Allergan’s acquisition of an exclusive license for Constella (linaclotide) in the above countries, which includes the development and commercialization of the drug for the treatment of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C), chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) and other gastrointestinal conditions. Linaclotide is currently approved by the European Commission for the treatment of moderate-to-severe IBS-C symptoms in adults.

“The acquisition of rights for Constella in these international markets is the next step towards our goal of becoming an even stronger partner for physicians globally seeking innovative therapies for their patients suffering from gastrointestinal disorders,” Paul Navarre, executive vice president and president of international brands at Allergan, said in the press release. “This agreement allows us to add Constella to our existing GI portfolio in select countries internationally and paves the way for future GI treatments in our own pipeline.”

The European Commission approved linaclotide in 2012 and, since then, it was marketed in several European countries under the brand name Constella through a license agreement between Ironwood and Almirall, according to the press release. Linaclotide was also approved in Mexico in 2014 for adults with IBS-C or CIC under the brand name Linzess, and through a sublicense from Allergan, was marketed by Almirall. In the U.S., Allergan and Ironwood co-develop and co-commercialize linaclotide under the brand name Linzess, and in Canada Allergan is commercializing linaclotide under the brand name Constella.

"Constella is the only prescription product approved for IBS-C patients in Europe, providing them with a treatment option that can improve symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating and constipation which are associated with this disorder,” Tom McCourt, chief commercial officer of Ironwood, said in the press release. “With Allergan's strong global commercial presence, including experience in Europe commercializing both specialty and primary care brands, we look forward to their efforts to bring Constella to adult IBS-C patients internationally.”

Disclosures: Navarre reports employment with Allergan. McCourt reports employment with Ironwood.