Idenix, GSK Sign Worldwide HIV Pact

Idenix Pharmaceuticals has entered a license agreement granting GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) exclusive worldwide rights to IDX899, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) in Phase II clinical development for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. To date, IDX899 has demonstrated high potency with low doses, a high barrier to drug resistance, favorable risk/benefit profile, and the convenience of once-a-day administration.

GSK will assume responsibility for the development and costs associated with IDX899, and Idenix will receive an upfront payment of $34 million and will be eligible to receive as much as $416 million in development, regulatory and sales milestones. If the drug is successfully developed and commercialized, Idenix will receive worldwide royalties.

“GSK, with a well-established HIV franchise and substantial drug development experience, is the ideal collaborator to help maximize the potential of IDX899,” said Jean-Pierre Sommadossi, chief executive officer of Idenix. “For Idenix, the significant value created through the license of IDX899 enables us to focus all of our resources on advancing our core strategic HCV assets, which include drug candidates from the three major classes of direct-acting HCV antivirals.”

“IDX899 may play a significant role in improving treatment options for people with HIV/AIDS,” commented Zhi Hong, senior vice president of the Infectious Diseases Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery (ID CEDD) at GSK. “A once-daily, lower-dose NNRTI that offers an improved drug resistance and pharmacokinetic profile would be valuable to HIV-treating physicians and patients. The preliminary clinical evidence of IDX899 supports this and warrants continued clinical study as part of GSK’s growing drug pipeline in HIV.”