Medivir and Tibotec strengthen antiviral alliance

In the first agreement, Medivir has outlicensed its preclinical HIV protease inhibitor project and, in the second agreement, provided a license for the MIV-210 polymerase inhibitor compound for HIV and hepatitis B (HBV).

The HIV protease inhibitor project is targeted at inhibition of the HIV protease enzyme and is in the preclinical research phase. Medivir, together with Tibotec, will continue to develop compounds within the project towards a future designation of candidate drugs. Medivir’s continued research work in the project is financially supported by Tibotec.

The HIV protease inhibitor project is valued at E64 million, of which E2 million is a license fee due on signing of the agreement. Medivir is entitled to royalties from worldwide sales of future products, except for the Nordic market where Medivir has retained marketing rights.

The total MIV-210 deal value, meanwhile, amounts to $30 million, of which $0.5 million is a license fee upon signing the agreement. Medivir is entitled to royalties from worldwide sales of a future product, except for the Nordic market where Medivir has retained marketing rights.

Finally, Tibotec has also agreed to extend the companies’ existing hepatitis C collaboration agreement and fund research to at least July 2007. The designated candidate drug is rapidly progressing to phase I and research is currently directed to identification of suitable follow-on compounds.