Galapagos and AbbVie have extended their GLPG0634 clinical development collaboration to include Crohn's disease.
As per the extension agreement, Galapagos will fund and complete a Phase 2 program in Crohn's disease, which is designed to facilitate rapid progression into Phase 3.
AbbVie will pay $50m to Galapagos once the study is completed in Q2 2015.
The company will be responsible for funding and performing clinical development beyond Phase 2, and completing regulatory and commercialization activities.
Expected to read out topline results in Q2 2015, the study will assess both induction of disease remission and early maintenance of its beneficial effects in Crohn's disease.
ThePhase 2 study in Crohn's disease will be performed in parallel with the Phase 2B study in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
AbbVie pharmaceutical development vice president Scott Brun said, "AbbVie supports the start of this innovative study in Crohn's disease with GLPG0634."
Galapagos CEO Onno van de Stolpe said that the innovative Phase 2 program in Crohn's disease is designed to move rapidly into Phase 3 when successful.
"Our pipeline continues to mature in stage and scope, now that we have three Phase 2 molecules in five inflammatory indications, all with readouts by mid 2015 or earlier," Stolpe added.
The terms of the collaboration extension are in addition to previously agreed financial terms.
