Boehringer Ingelheim and Biota sign worldwide research agreement

Boehringer Ingelheim and Biota Holdings have announced the signing of a $102 million (52.5 million pounds) for worldwide research and collaboration.

According to the agreement Boehringer Ingleheim will develop and commercialise novel nucleoside analogues from Biota that are used for the treatment of patients infected with hepatitis C.

The companies have expressed hopes that the collaboration agreement will result in progress in the treatment of hepatitis C, which currently has a limited number of treatment options.

Biota will receive payments up to the value of $102 million, depending on the attainment of significant milestones in clinical trials, regulatory approvals and commercialisation. Both companies will be represented in equal numbers on the Joint Research Committee that is managing the research programme.

Peter Cook, chief executive officer of Biota, said: “Today’s agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim is further validation of Biota’s antiviral drug discover capabilities and our ability to consistently deliver valuable candidates to global pharmaceutical companies.”

He added that the company was “delighted” to be collaborating with Boehringer Ingelheim, a company it saw as a market leader in antiviral therapeutics.

Biota reports that in Centre of Disease Control figures estimate the rate of infection of hepatitis C in the US alone to be 1.6 per cent of the population, with up to five per cent of patients dying as a result of the disease.