November 2011 | Nordic Life Science

DuoCort AB to be acquired by ViroPharma

DuoCort AB announces it has signed a definitive agreement to sell DuoCort Pharma AB and its orphan drug Plenadren® to the biopharmaceutical company ViroPharma Incorporated. The total potential deal value exceeds one billion SEK of which 220 million SEK will be paid by ViroPharma on closing.

The orphan drug Plenadren® is the first true innovation in over 50 years in the treatment of adrenal insufficiency. The drug is a dual replacement therapy designed to better mimic the normal physiological cortisol serum profile. It has an outer layer releasing hydrocortisone immediately and an inner core releasing the rest of the drug more slowly during the day.

The European Commission has now granted a European Marketing Authorisation for Plenadren®.

Read more about the business deal between DuoCort and ViroPharma in the next issue of Nordic Life Science Review (NLSR Q4 2011)

Santaris Pharma A/S presents clinical trial data of drug to treat hepatitis C

Santaris Pharma A/S, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of RNA-targeted therapies, presents new data from the phase 2a trial at the AASLD conference in San Francisco in the beginning of November.

Miravirsen, Santaris Pharma’s candidate drug for the treatment of infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), is based on targeting of a specific viral micro-RNA that is needed for replication of the virus. It is the first micro-RNA-targeted drug to enter clinical trials and the results show that a four-week monotherapy treatment provide robust and dose-dependent antiviral activity. Four out of nine patients treated with the highest dose became undetectable for the virus. The drug is well tolerated in patients with chronic HCV infection. Miravirsen shows a long-lasting suppression of the virus, a high barrier to viral resistance, low propensity for drug interactions and favorable tolerability holds promise as pivotal new treatment option.

“Due to its unique mechanism of action in targeting miR-122, miravirsen has the potential to change the way Hepatitis C is treated,” says MD Stefan Zeuzem, Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Department of Medicine at the JW Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany and Lead Clinical Investigator of the clinical trial. “Miravirsen has the potential to be used as the central backbone treatment in combination with direct anti-viral agents as part of an interferon-free, infrequent dosing regimen.”

MicroRNAs have emerged as an important class of small RNAs encoded in the genome. Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNAS are associated with many disease processes and since they are singular molecular entities they represent potential drug targets for the control of many biologic and disease processes.

Creative Antibiotics signs agreement with AMRI

The Swedish company Creative Antibiotics AB has signed an agreement with Albany Molecular Research, Inc. (AMRI). The agreement consists of two parts - the first part comprises the development of one Creative Antibiotics’ promising substance classes for treatment of infectious caused by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. The second part comprises the screening of two AMRI large substance libraries to find new substances that are effective against Gram-negative bacteria, in particular Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

“We are very satisfied to have reached an agreement with AMRI. The substance class that we are developing with the support of AMRI has so far shown very promising results in our hands. With the help of AMRI, we can increase the pace towards identifying a candidate drug in that substance class,” says Dr Ulf Broberg, CEO of Creative Antibiotics Sweden AB.

AMRI is equally pleased. “We realize and appreciate the potential benefits this program can provide to patients suffering from infectious diseases,” says Dr Bruce Sargent, AMRI Senior Vice President of Drug Discovery.

The agreement with AMRI is part of Creative Antiobiotic’s project in small molecules that inhibit the T3SS virulence mechanism. The small molecules project is one of four cornerstones in the company’s research- and development platform.

Creative Antibiotics, founded in 2000, has developed and patented a number of substances against bacterial infections. These substances block the capabilities of certain bacteria to cause disease without eliminating them. If bacteria are disarmed rather than being eliminated, the risk that the bacteria develop resistance towards the drug decreases.

New patent for cancer adjuvant therapy issued

The Norwegian company Biotec Pharmacon ASA has been issued a patent by the Canadian Patent Office that covers the combination of two compositions of one or more monoclonal antibodies and yeast beta glucan for treatment of a large variety of cancers. Beta glucan enhances the effect of the monoclonal antibodies which target different cancer types including lung and breast cancer as well as leukemia.

“This latest patent covers claims in connection with our technology that allows Biotec Pharmacon to enhance the company’s position in the field of glucan adjuvant cancer therapy,” says Sven Lien, CEO, Biotec Pharmacon ASAa. “This recently issued Canadian patent is a further addition to existing patents in other countries which adds confirmation to Biotec Pharmacon ASAa unique position in developing a universal platform for enhancing existing cancer antibody treatments.”

Biotec Pharmacon has developed the concept of combining monoclonal antibodies and yeast beta glucan together with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). Both parties are joint owners of this technology, Biotec Pharmacon has an exclusive license on MSKCC’s right to this patent.

Sartorius acquires liquid handling business of Finish company Biohit

Sartorius AG, a leading international process and laboratory technology provider, has signed an agreement to aquire the entire liquid handling business of Helsinki-based Biohit Oyi for 68 million euro. Biohit is a biotechnology company that develops, manufactures and markets liquid handling products such as pipettes and pipette tips, as well as diagnostic tests and analysis systems.

According to Sartorius AG, Biohit’s liquid handling business represents an ideal fit with Sartorius’ Laboratory Instruments portfolio which includes precision lab balances, laboratory water purification and moisture analyzers, among other products.

The transaction is expected to close in December 2011.