MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--OPKO Health, Inc. (NYSE AMEX: OPK) announced today that Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ: TEVA) has signed a collaboration option to license and share purchase agreements to invest in Cocrystal Discovery Inc. (CDI), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel antiviral therapeutics for the treatment of serious and chronic viral diseases. OPKO currently owns approximately 16% of CDI on a fully diluted basis.
Teva's investment will be utilized by CDI to continue its development program of novel antiviral drugs that target viral replication enzymes. Currently, CDI is using its unique technologies to develop oral, once-a-day, broad-spectrum antivirals for the treatment of Hepatitis C, influenza and rhinovirus (common cold).
Under the terms of the agreement, Teva will initially invest $7.5 million in CDI, and CDI will develop for Teva an antiviral drug targeting the polymerase enzyme of the Hepatitis C virus. Upon completion of the initial development plan, Teva will have the option to make additional investments under certain milestones. Teva will have the right to exclusively license the drug for further development and commercialization, under agreed-upon commercial terms.
Teva also has the option to further invest in CDI for the development of two additional antiviral or antibacterial drugs. For all such investments, Teva will receive up to approximately 23% holdings in CDI.
About OPKO Health, Inc.
We are a multi-national biopharmaceutical and diagnostics company that seeks to establish industry-leading positions in large and rapidly growing medical markets by leveraging our discovery, development and commercialization expertise and our novel and proprietary technologies.