Advertise With UsAdvertise on our extensive network of industry websites and newsletters.
Get the PBR newsletterSign up to our free email to get all the latest PBR
news.Sweden's Active Biotech and England's Avidex have announced that their CD80 antagonist for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, RhuDex, has entered phase I clinical trials, triggering a milestone payment to the Swedish biotech company.
Subscribe to our email newsletter
RhuDex is an orally administered small molecule principally indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RhuDex offers a novel approach in the treatment of RA by blocking the inappropriate T cell response and blocking the release of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF, IL-1, IL-2 and IFN.
In April 2002, Active Biotech signed a licensing agreement with Avidex Ltd, a spin-out from Oxford University, regarding Active Biotech’s patented CD80 antagonists. The agreement grants Avidex the exclusive right to further develop and market the CD80 antagonists.
For Active Biotech, the agreement entailed an initial payment in 2002 and eligibility for milestone payments totaling up to GBP5.8 million as well as royalties on future sales. The start of the phase I clinical trial entitles Active Biotech to a minor milestone payment.
RhuDex is the first drug from Avidex to enter trials in humans and represents a significant commercial opportunity for the company. The annual market for rheumatoid arthritis drugs exceeds $14 billion and RhuDex, as an oral drug, should be well placed to take a significant share of this when approved.
“We are delighted to announce what is a hugely significant step for Avidex,” said James Noble, CEO at Avidex. “RhuDex is unique with great commercial potential; we know of no other orally delivered small molecule in development that directly blocks T cell activation.”