Roche is terminating its collaboration with biotechnology company Blueprint Medicine and handing back commercial rights to its lung cancer treatment Gavreto. The move comes weeks after the Swiss drugmaker took impairment charges worth 663 million Swiss francs, or about $706 million, to account for the falling sales forecasts for the drug.
Blueprint said Thursday the termination will be effective in February 2024, and the two companies will work to ensure continued patient access before Blueprint assumes full control. Blueprint said it will also seek to “advance and simplify the continued global commercialization and development of Gavreto.” The termination affects all commercial activities outside China, where Blueprint has signed a deal with CStone Pharmaceuticals.
