Medivir could gain $430M from HCV collaboration

BioWorld examines a $430 million deal between Sweden's Medivir and Tibotec to develop new polymerase inhibitors. They'll jointly screen libraries for nucleoside analogues that show anti-HCV activity in vitro. And once a compound is identified, Tibotec will take over development and keep marketing rights outside of the Nordic countries. Medivir gets €5 million up front and up to €272 million in milestones if two products reach the market. Researchers for the two companies already have an HCV compound in development. BioWorld also notes that Anadys has a competing therapy being prepared for a Phase I trial that targets HCV viral replication.

- here's the release on the deal
- read the report from BioWorld