BioVersys and Shionogi have entered a research and exclusive licence option agreement for the co-development of new ansamycin leads from the former’s BV500 programme into clinical candidates.
BioVersys is eligible for upfront and near-term research payments totalling SFr5m ($6m).
If clinical candidates are successfully selected, Shionogi may exercise its licence option. This could result in BioVersys receiving up to SFr479m in regulatory and sales milestones, along with royalties on international sales.
The BV500 programme is based on BioVersys’ Ansamycin Chemistry platform.
Research teams from Lille, France, and Basel, Switzerland, have developed several potential lead candidates with broad-spectrum in vitro and in vivo anti-non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) activity without cross-resistance issues.
Shionogi director of the board and research and development supervisory unit senior vice-president John Keller stated: “This collaboration reflects our commitment to advancing innovative treatments for infectious diseases with significant unmet medical needs, and Shionogi will be bringing our scientific knowledge and operational capabilities fully to bear to maximise the potential of BioVersys’ BV500 programme.”
The joint research teams will deliver clinical candidates as well as back-up molecules during the collaboration period.
Shionogi will hold an exclusive option to license these molecules for further clinical development and commercialisation worldwide.
The BV500 programme originated from a SmartLab public-private partnership with the University of Lille.
Funding support and expertise were provided by CF AMR Syndicate and the EU IHI funded RespiriN programme which will continue their involvement throughout ongoing BV500 development stages.
BioVersys research head Dr Nawaz Khan stated: “BV500 has the potential to become a best-in-class therapeutic for NTM infections.
“This is a validation of our work and will accelerate the development of the project. We look forward to the partnership with our colleagues at Shionogi and to the opportunity to leverage a broad range of complementary expertise.”
