Ambrilia inks $232M licensing deal of HIV drug

Canada's Ambrilia Pharmaceuticals has licensed its early-stage lead product to Merck for $17 million up front and up to $215 million in milestones. The first milestone of $3 million will be rewarded for a successful completion of its ongoing Phase I dosing study of its HIV drug PPL-100. Data from that study is expected in November. After that study is wrapped, Merck is responsible for development costs.

Researchers at Ambrilia have touted PPL-100 for its ability to bind to the protease enzyme, keeping it effective after several mutations of the virus. And the company believes that the therapy can also act to enhance existing inhibitors in a drug cocktail.

- here's the report on Ambrilia's deal from The Globe and Mail