BioXell
Based: Milan Why It's Fierce: Spun off from Roche four years ago, BioXell has wasted no time in pushing the drug development program that originated from its work on vitamin D3 analogues. The biotech has three mid-stage studies underway for various indications in urology, including a Phase IIb for BXL628 as a therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia. A fourth mid-stage trial of BXL628 is expected to start in early 2007. Last year, BioXell also inked a $150 million licensing deal to develop new drugs based on its TREM (Triggering Receptors Expressed on Myeloid Cells) work, a novel group of receptors that play a role in a variety of diseases. The Merck deal includes an initial product still in preclinical development and a pact to work together to advance other TREM receptors as well. "Merck has a very powerful development engine and fantastic science," says CEO Francesco Sinigaglia. BioXell is also collaborating with ProStrakan to develop vitamin D3 preclinical drug candidates to treat osteoporosis and secondary hyperparathyroidism. The company clearly believes that its lead product has real potential. "We have shown that three-month treatment reduced the size of the prostate significantly in one-third of the patients, comparable to the market leader, from Merck," says Sinigaglia. "However, unlike the marketed product from Merck, or others in this class, our compound is not associated with sexual side affects. "The strategy of the company is to become a fully-integrated biopharma company, with research and development and eventually marketing in urology. That's our vision," says the CEO. "The key elements of these strategies: maximize the commercial value of our lead product 628, but also to build a leading urological pipeline." What to look for: A steady stream of new data on 628 beginning this quarter, with more to follow in the third quarter of this year. The company may line up a development partner later this year or next, but BioXell says it is also lining up the capital if it chooses to go it alone. |
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