Allergan and Serenity to collaborate on nocturia treatment

Allergan has entered into a partnership with Serenity Pharmaceuticals to develop a new treatment for sufferers of nocturia.

The deal sees Allergan acquire rights to manufacture and sell the phase III investigational treatment Ser-120, which is specified for adult patients of the condition, which causes frequent urination during night hours.

Under the terms of the agreement, Serenity will receive an upfront payment of $43 million (28.3 million pounds), as well as receiving potential milestone payments of up to $122 million depending on the drug’s developmental progress.

The companies both stated that an unmet medical need exists for the treatment of nocturia, which Allergan describes as a “common yet often under-diagnosed urological disorder”.

Dr Scott Whitcup, Allergan’s executive vice-president of research and development and chief scientific officer, added: “If successful, Ser-120 would complement our emerging urology portfolio of treatments for a variety of urinary disorders.”

Last month, the company announced that it will work with Bristol-Myers Squibb on the development of AGN-209323, a new neuropathic pain treatment.