Elanco enters agreement for rights to Aratanas Galliprant

Elanco Animal Health has licensed the animal health rights to Galliprant (grapiprant tablets) from Aratana Therapeutics. Galliprant is an FDA-approved therapeutic for control of pain and inflammation associated with canine osteoarthritis. The agreement gives Elanco exclusive, global rights to manufacture, market and commercialize Galliprant, and the ability to co-promote the product with Aratana in the United States, according to a company release.

Galliprant is a prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) EP4 receptor antagonist (PRA), a non-cyclooxygenase inhibiting, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, which blocks PGE2-elicited pain and inflammation, and is the first in its class of drugs.

"This deal expands Elanco's robust companion animal portfolio, which will now give our customers and their patients a spectrum of treatments for managing osteoarthritic pain," says Jeff Simmons, president of Elanco Animal Health in the release. "At Elanco, we understand the powerful role healthy animals play in making life better. As pets become important parts of our families, the need to help them live longer, healthier, higher quality lives increases as well."

Aratana will receive an upfront payment of $45 million, with additional payments up to $85 million upon reaching certain milestones in development, regulatory and sales areas, as well as co-promotion fees and royalty payments.

"Aratana understands the value of relationships with the right collaborators," says Steven St. Peter, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aratana Therapeutics. "We believe that this collaboration with Elanco, a leading animal health company, is a watershed event for the emerging pet biotech sector and further validates our focus on the pet therapeutics opportunity."