Date: 2012-06-04
Type of information: Licensing agreement
Compound: small molecule polymerase inhibitors for the treatment of influenza virus infections
Company: Savira pharmaceuticals (Austria) Roche (Switzerland)
Therapeutic area: Infectious diseases
Type agreement: collaboration
licensing
Action mechanism:
Disease: influenza virus infections
Details: Savira pharmaceuticals, a spin-off of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) based in Vienna, has announced a partnership with Roche to develop small molecule polymerase inhibitors for the treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza virus infections. Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will be granted an exclusive, worldwide license on Savira’s cap-snatching inhibitor program.
This program is based on research by Stephen Cusack, Head of EMBL Grenoble, and colleagues Darren Hart and Rob Ruigrok of the joint EMBL-Grenoble University-CNRS Unit for virus host cell interactions (UVHCI). They study an unique replication mechanism called“cap-snatching”and the detailed architecture of the various molecules involved. \"Cap-snatching\" is used by the virus to hijack the protein-production machinery of the infected host cell so that it preferentially produces viral proteins. It is performed by a polymerase. Small molecule inhibitors of the polymerase targeting the cap-snatching mechanism can block viral replication and thus prevent the infection from spreading. Because this mechanism is used by all influenza strains, such inhibitors could potentially help fight a wide range of flu viruses, including novel pandemic strains.
Financial terms: Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will be granted an exclusive, worldwide license on Savira’s cap-snatching inhibitor program. In return, Savira will receive milestone payments that could total € 240 million. In addition, Savira will receive upfront payments, research and development support, and royalties on product sales.
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