GSK, Mpex in Antibiotic Discovery Pact

Mpex Pharmaceuticals and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have entered into a worldwide strategic alliance for the discovery, development and commercialization of novel medicines for bacterial diseases. The collaboration provides GSK access to Mpex’s efflux pump inhibitors (EPI) and related technology for use in combination with a variety of antibiotics. The collaboration will focus on drug regimens using Mpex’s EPIs combined with GSK’s development stage compounds as well as existing antibiotics to improve potency and broaden the spectrum of antibacterial activity.

Under the terms of the agreement, GSK will have rights to product candidates directed at three different targets with the potential to deliver as many as seven treatment options. Mpex will be responsible for the discovery of EPI drug candidates and the development of combination product candidates through clinical proof of concept, at which point GSK will have an option to exclusively license each product candidate for further development. Mpex will retain rights to product candidates GSK does not select. Mpex will receive an $8.5 million upfront payment and a $6.5 million equity financing commitment from GSK. Mpex is also eligible to receive development, regulatory and commercial milestones of as much as $250 million for each product candidate. If GSK exercises its option, Mpex will receive tiered royalties based on sales.

“The critical role of antibiotic efflux has been well recognized in bacterial resistance, but to date, safe and effective efflux pump inhibitors have not been developed. Given the progress Mpex has made in this program over the last several years, we are optimistic that combining our efforts with an industry leader such as GlaxoSmithKline will maximize our chances of success to develop a portfolio of products from this platform technology that is greater than we could hope to develop on our own,” said Daniel Burgess, president and chief executive officer of Mpex Pharmaceuticals.