Gilead Licenses Three Preclinical Antiviral Programs from Novartis Targeting Rhinovirus, Influenza, and Herpesviruses

July 22, 2019/BioValleyBIOON/--Gilead Sciences recently announced that it hasNovartisLicensed three preclinical antiviral programs, including investigational drugs with the potential to treat human rhinovirus, influenza virus, and herpesvirus.

Under the agreement, Gilead Sciences will obtain exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize novel small-molecule therapeutics targeting three undisclosed targets.NovartisAn undisclosed upfront payment will be received, with additional potential milestone payments of $291 million upon the achievement of specified development and commercialization milestones, as well as royalties based on net product sales.

Gilead’s antiviral portfolio includes widely used medications for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and influenza infections.

John McHutchison, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Research and Development at Gilead Sciences, stated:“Today’s announcement builds on Gilead’s legacy in antiviral research and development. We look forward to leveraging this expertise to advance the development of potential new therapies for viral infections with limited treatment options.”

Since John O’Day assumed the role of CEO at Gilead Sciences in March this year, he has been restructuring the executive leadership support team to drive the company forward, while also focusing on strengthening its pipeline. Earlier this month, the company entered into a 10-year R&D collaboration with Belgian biotech firm Galapagos NV. This deal, valued at nearly $5 billion, grants Gilead access to an innovative portfolio of compounds, including those currently undergoingClinical Trialssix molecules, more than 20 preclinical projects, and a validated drug discovery platform. Key clinical assets in the study include GLPG1690 (in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) and GLPG1972 (in Phase IIb clinical trials for the treatment of osteoarthritis).

Also in July, Gilead Sciences reached an agreement with the Renown Institute for Health Innovation (IHI) to conduct research on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a therapeutic area of significant interest to Gilead, although no successful treatment has been developed to date. Gilead has established a comprehensive presence in the field of NASH therapy development, adhering to a research philosophy that employs combination therapies to simultaneously target multiple signaling pathways associated with NASH. The company has partnered with Novo Nordisk to combine Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide with Gilead’s cilofexor and firsocostat for the treatment of patients with NASH. Additionally, Gilead has collaborated with insitro to leverage machine learning for the discovery of potential innovative targets for NASH.

Under this collaboration with Renown IHI, Gilead will provide funding to Renown IHI to sequence and analyze the genomes of 15,000 patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), as well as 40,000 healthy volunteers in Nevada. The resulting genomic data will then be integrated with patient information stored in electronic health records to provide insights into the pathogenesis of NASH.

In addition to liver diseases, Gilead Sciences is also one of the industry-leading companies in the development of HIV drugs. Earlier this month, the company reached an agreement with Lyndra Therapeutics, headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts, to develop and commercialize ultra-long-acting oral HIV therapies. Gilead will have exclusive rights to Lyndra’s ultra-long-acting formulation platform technology.

Lyndra Therapeutics specializes in reformulating oral medications to reduce dosing frequency. The company’s ultra-long-acting dosage form platform technology involves incorporating active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) into a star-shaped configuration housed within a standard capsule. This star-shaped design features six arms that expand in the patient’s stomach, enabling continuous, slow drug release over an extended period. The star-shaped structure remains in the stomach until all its arms detach, after which it is safely eliminated through the gastrointestinal tract. This technology allows patients to take medication as infrequently as once weekly or even once monthly, rather than daily, thereby potentially improving medication adherence, leading to better health outcomes and lower healthcare costs. Additionally, delivering controlled drug doses reduces side effects and enhances therapeutic efficacy.

Under the terms of the agreement, Gilead Sciences will make a $15 million upfront payment to Lyndra to develop a once-weekly oral HIV medication. Gilead will obtain exclusive rights to any products resulting from the collaboration, and Lyndra has agreed not to partner with other companies to apply its technology to HIV drug development. (Bioon.com)

Original Source:Gilead Snaps up Antiviral Programs From Novartis, Follows Slew of Other Pipeline-Bolstering Deals