Canada's Ambrilia Biopharma says that Merck has placed the development program for the HIV therapy--MK-8122--on hold as it focuses on basic science efforts [1] to evaluate other PL-100 prodrugs and formulation options. Ambrilia says that Merck is also exploring possible back-up compounds.
"Ambrilia believes in the potential of PPL-100/MK-8122 and related compounds to offer advantages to HIV patients over the currently commercialized protease inhibitors," said Dr. Philippe Calais, the CEO of Ambrilia. "Our partnership with Merck [2] continues and we look forward to further progress on potential back-up compounds." Dr. Calais continued, "Both companies remain focused on the partnership and determined to provide the best compounds available to help people with HIV/AIDS."
- check out the release [3]
Related Articles:
Ambrilia inks $232M licensing deal of HIV drug [2]
AIDS vaccine researchers years away from success [4]
Feds steering funds back to basic AIDS vax research [1]
Merck halts study of "ineffective" HIV vaccine [5]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercebioresearcher.com/vaccines/story/feds-steering-funds-back-to-basic-aids-vax-research/2008-03-27
[2] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/ambrilia-inks-232m-licensing-deal-of-hiv-drug/2006-10-12?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss&cmp-id=OTC-RSS-FB0
[3] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/press-releases/ambrilia-provides-update-ppl-100-partnership-merck
[4] http://www.fiercebioresearcher.com/vaccines/story/aids-vaccine-researchers-years-away-from-success/2008-04-24
[5] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/press-releases/press-release-merck-halts-study-ineffective-hiv-vaccine?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal