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news.Vertex Pharmaceuticals has entered into a licensing agreement with Alios BioPharma to develop ALS-2200 and ALS-2158 (nucleotide analogues) and create a new, all-oral combination regimens for chronic hepatitis C.
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ALS-2200 and ALS-2158, currently in preclinical development, are designed to inhibit the replication of the hepatitis C virus by acting on the NS5B polymerase.
As part of the agreement, Alios will receive a $60m up-front payment from Vertex for the worldwide rights to ALS-2200 and ALS-2158.
Vertex will responsible for development costs related to ALS-2200 and ALS-2158 and will also provide research funding to Alios.
In addition, Alios would be eligible to receive research and development milestone payments up to $715m if both compounds are approved.
Vertex expects to pay approximately $35m in development milestones in 2011.
Alios is also eligible to receive up to $750m in sales milestones on sales of all approved medicines under the collaboration.
The agreement also includes tiered royalties on product sales.
Alios BioPharma founder and CEO Lawrence Blatt said together they have the potential to create an all-oral, interferon-free, combination therapy that could improve the safety, efficacy and ease of administration for patients.
Vertex Global Research and Development CSO and executive vice president Peter Mueller said the recent approval of INCIVEK underscores their commitment to further improve the treatment of this disease with new combinations of medicines.
"Based on in vitro data, we look forward to evaluate ALS-2200 and ALS-2158 together and in combination with our approved and investigational hepatitis C medicines with the goal of creating a potent all-oral regimen in the years ahead," Mueller said.