SRI signs licensing and research agreement with AuricX Pharmaceuticals

Under the terms of the agreement, AuricX gained rights from SRI to oral formulations of the antibiotic vancomycin. SRI received upfront payments and will be eligible for success-based milestones and royalties on sales. Terms have not been disclosed.

Early proof-of-concept work at SRI to develop the orally bioavailable vancomycin formulation was funded by a contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health. Under the research agreement with AuricX, SRI will complete its formulation studies and fully optimize the oral bioavailability of vancomycin.

Eric Nicolaides, CEO of AuricX, said: “We are pleased to be partnering with SRI on this innovative solution to address a known clinical need. The addition of a breakthrough formulation for one of the world’s best known antibiotics is a welcome addition to AuricX’s pipeline.

“We look forward to working with SRI to complete this work and we are committed to getting this product into the clinic and to those in need as quickly as possible.”