Bristol-Myers Squibb sells shingles drug to Synergy Pharmaceuticals

Bristol-Myers Squibb has sold its orally available nucleoside analogue therapy FV-100 to Synergy Pharmaceuticals.

Financial terms of the asset purchase agreement were not highlighted by the companies, with Synergy now planning to take the drug forward in its development as a potential therapy for shingles.

Data from a recent phase IIa clinical trial showed that the treatment was able to deliver meaningful reductions in time to resolution of clinically significant pain and in incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia.

Shingles is a severe, painful skin rash caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox.

Dr Gary Jacob, chief executive officer of Synergy Pharmaceuticals, said: "We believe that with our expanding clinical experience in utilising patient-reported outcome tools from our gastrointestinal programme … we are in a unique position to further develop FV-100 for patients not adequately treated with present-day therapy."

Earlier this month, Bristol-Myers Squibb expanded its diabetes alliance with AstraZeneca following the completion of its takeover of Amylin Pharmaceuticals.