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news.Microbiotix has signed a licensing deal with Merck for hepatitis C virus NS5B non-nucleoside polymerase inhibitors.
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Microbiotix gains worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize MBX-700 and MBX-701 that are designed to target NS5B polymerase enzyme and thereby restrain viral replication.
Microbiotix president and CEO Terry Bowlin said, "We believe MBX-700 and MBX-701 have great potential as potent ingredients in future combination drug therapy."
According to the deal, Merck will earn development based milestone payments in addition to royalty payments from the products resulting from the collaboration while specific terms of the transaction were not revealed.
At present, MBX-700 is under Phase I clinical testing while MBX-701 is in preclinical development.
Merck Research Laboratories infectious diseases project leadership and management vice president Eliav Barr said, "Our discovery programs have identified a number of well-characterized candidates targeting hepatitis C."