Ariad's CEO Harvey Berger emphatically stated "The company is not for sale"
Speculation has begun as other big deals are surfacing in biotech and Ariad's stock is trading near 5 year highs. Berger says the company is in active discussions with large pharma companies in Japan to commercialize its late stage drug ponatinib. The drug is aimed at CML and Philadelphia positive ALL patients, usually children.
Ariad says it will commercialize the drug themselves in the US and Europe, but doesn't have the wherewithall to do so in Asia and thus is seeking the partner. The global market is estimated at more than $600 M by Ariad. Ariad expects FDA approval by late 2012 or early 2013. See Fierce Biotech.
Posted by Bruce Lehr March 30th 2011.
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