WHO OWNS RETEVMO?

 

Understanding Retevmo Ownership: Who Really Owns the Drug?

As a cancer patient, you may have heard about Retevmo, a targeted therapy drug used to treat non-small cell lung cancer, thyroid cancer, and other types of cancer. But have you ever wondered who owns Retevmo? In this article, we will explore the history of Retevmo ownership and provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the drug's ownership structure.

The Beginning of Retevmo

Retevmo, also known as selpercatinib, was first discovered by Loxo Oncology, a biopharmaceutical company that specialized in developing cancer drugs. In 2017, Loxo Oncology entered into a collaboration with Bayer, a global pharmaceutical company, to develop and commercialize Retevmo worldwide.

Bayer's Acquisition of Loxo Oncology

In early 2019, Bayer acquired Loxo Oncology for a total consideration of $8.1 billion. The acquisition was part of Bayer's strategy to expand its oncology portfolio and strengthen its presence in the US market.

As a result of the acquisition, Bayer became the owner of Retevmo, along with other drugs developed by Loxo Oncology. Bayer now owns and manages the global development, manufacturing, and commercialization of Retevmo.

However, it's worth noting that Bayer is not the only company that owns Retevmo. In fact, the drug is also co-owned by a Japanese pharmaceutical company called Daiichi Sankyo. So how did this come about?

Daiichi Sankyo's Collaboration with Loxo Oncology

In 2019, Loxo Oncology also entered into a collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo to co-develop and co-commercialize several cancer drugs, including Retevmo, in Japan.

Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Daiichi Sankyo paid Loxo Oncology an upfront payment of $200 million and agreed to pay additional milestone payments based on the achievement of certain clinical and commercial milestones. In exchange, Daiichi Sankyo obtained the rights to develop and commercialize Retevmo in Japan, while Loxo Oncology retained the rights to develop and commercialize the drug in the rest of the world.

As a result of the acquisition of Loxo Oncology by Bayer, Daiichi Sankyo became a co-owner of Retevmo alongside Bayer. The two companies now work together to develop and commercialize the drug worldwide.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Retevmo is co-owned by two pharmaceutical companies, Bayer and Daiichi Sankyo, as a result of several collaboration agreements. Bayer owns and manages the global development, manufacturing, and commercialization of the drug, while Daiichi Sankyo owns the rights to develop and commercialize the drug in Japan.

Understanding the ownership structure of Retevmo is important for patients, healthcare providers, and investors alike. It provides insight into the complex relationships between pharmaceutical companies and the collaborations that make drug development and commercialization possible.