Abbott declines rights to SPP200

Abbot Laboratories will not exercise its licence back-option on SPP200 (pegmusirudin) ? a long-acting direct thrombin inhibitor currently showing “promising” phase II trial results.

Speedel, the biopharmaceutical company responsible for trialling the drug with patients with chronic haemodialysis in the US, has retained all development, commercial and marketing rights to SPP200. As such, the company is evaluating Abbot’s decision and is currently in consultation with the US Food and Drink Administration.

Alice Huxley, chief executive officer of Speedel, said: “SPP200 gives Speedel the opportunity to retain an asset and add further value to our mature and diverse pipeline. We will be considering all options, from both clinical and economical perspectives, before deciding the most appropriate next steps.”

The phrase II trial saw SPP200 assessed in relation to the reduction of vascular graft occlusion, which is when a blood clot forms in the graft between the patient and the dialysis machine, in those undergoing chronic haemodialysis for end-stage renal disease.

Findings included that the “probability of patients having a vascular graft occlusion was approximately three times less” than when unfractionated heparin was used.

Speedel, which was founded by Ms Huxley in 1998, announced yesterday that on June 30th its liquid assets were worth CHF149.1 million (64.2 million pounds).

© Adfero Ltd