Novo Nordisk Earns Neose Milestone

Novo Nordisk has initiated a Phase I clinical trial of GlycoPEGylated Factor VIIa, a long-acting version of NovoSeven Coagulation Factor VIIa, triggering an undisclosed milestone payment to Neose Technologies, Inc. under the companies’ license agreement. The trial will assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of GlycoPEGylated Factor VIIa in healthy volunteers.

“Novo Nordisk is committed to developing therapies to prevent or reduce bleeding episodes and to improve the quality of life in patients with hemophilia. We are pleased that our collaboration with Neose has resulted in a long-acting Factor VIIa clinical development candidate that has the potential to contribute to this goal,” said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk.

“We are pleased that GlycoPEGylated Factor VIIa has entered clinical development, making it the third GlycoPEGylated therapeutic protein to reach this milestone. Novo Nordisk has proved to be an ideal partner for this development candidate, and we are confident that their clinical expertise will continue to add value to this program,” said George J. Vergis, Ph.D., Neose president and chief executive officer.