GSK, NanoBio Seal Licensing Agreement For OTC Use Of NB-001

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and NanoBio has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement in the US and Canada for the over-the-counter (OTC) use of NB-001, a patented compound representing the next advance in the treatment of cold sores. Developed by NanoBio, NB-001 provides antimicrobial activity against the virus that causes cold sores, herpes labialis.

GSK has established Abreva as the cold sore treatment with a greater than 50% share, gaining two share points in the prior 12 months. Abreva is the OTC medicine approved by the FDA that is proven to shorten cold sore healing time.

Reportedly, NanoBio has completed two Phase 2 clinical trials of NB-001, demonstrating clear efficacy and a good safety profile in patients and plans to enter Phase 3 testing soon.

As per the terms of the agreement, NanoBio is expected to receive an upfront payment of $14.5m, and is eligible to receive additional milestone payments of up to $40m plus single digit royalties on future sales.

James Baker, founder and CEO of NanoBio, said: “I am pleased to announce this partnership with GSK as it will enable the development and commercialisation of NB-001 to its fullest potential. On a broader scale, this partnership further validates the promise of our proprietary platform technology, and its potential use in a wide range of dermatological and anti-infective applications.”

Roger Scarlett-Smith, president of consumer healthcare North America at GSK, said: “We are always looking for innovations that bring value to the consumer. With Abreva, we have a very effective cold sore treatment in the category and look forward to building on that platform with this new technology from NanoBio.”