GregGeissman, associate director of public relations for Celgene, tells
ddn, "We are constantly looking fornovel and innovative science to pursue both internally and externally throughcollaborations like this. Anemia is a fit due to our area of focus inhematology and blood cancers. Also, our focus in oncology makes the researchinto chemotherapy and cancer-induced anemia a strong complement.
"As withour other collaborative project, Acceleron will manage the clinical programthrough Phase II, at which point we will assume the clinical development of thecompound," he continues. "Right now, we can say that we are looking forward tothe nearer-term clinical progress with both programs."
Thepartnership could make Acceleron and Celgene the main rivals for a large pieceof the global anemia treatment pie. Notably, the partnership could challengebiotech giant Amgen for the global anemia market. Amgen developed a drug in the1980s for treating anemia, and despite some setbacks, Amgen's anemia productgenerated $5 billion in worldwide sales for Amgen last year.
