BTG LICENSES ANALGESIC COMPOUNDS FROM ASTERAND

Main Menu | News By Date | News By Supplier | News By Category | About Us

BTG LICENSES ANALGESIC COMPOUNDS FROM ASTERAND
20 April 2007 - BTG

BTG plc, the medical innovations company, and Asterand plc (formerly Pharmagene plc) announce that the companies have entered into an exclusive licence agreement, whereby BTG acquires the rights to a series of compounds discovered and developed by Asterand to treat painful conditions such as migraine headache.

The compounds arise from Asterand's R4 development programme. They are selective EP4 receptor antagonists, designed to specifically block the actions of prostaglandin E2 involved in pain and inflammation without affecting the beneficial effects of prostaglandins. The lead molecule, BGC20-1531 (previously PGN1531) is in preclinical studies. It prevents prostaglandin E2 induced dilation of blood vessels in human cerebral vasculature an effect which contributes to the pain of migraine headache.

BTG plans to advance the development of BGC20-1531 into clinical trials and will continue the evaluation of this and other molecules in the programme for other therapeutic indications.

BTG will pay Asterand an undisclosed downpayment as well as success-based development milestones and royalties.

Commenting on the acquisition, BTG's CEO Louise Makin said: "These compounds represent a valuable addition to our growing drug development portfolio at BTG. Effective and safe treatments for pain remain an area of significant unmet need and is an area in which we are building our portfolio."

Randal Charlton, Chief Executive Officer of Asterand plc said: "Following the completion of our recent merger Asterand is seeking to realise the value of Pharmagene's therapeutics portfolio. We are delighted to have reached this agreement with BTG and are seeking partners for other programmes. We believe BTG has the necessary resources and expertise to exploit the value of the R4 programme for the benefit of both companies."

http://www.btgplc.com

About: BTG
BTG is an intellectual property and technology commercialisation company that operates internationally. BTG creates value by investing in intellectual property and technology development, and in early stage ventures. We realise value through technology licensing, patent assertion and sale of equity investments. Through a multidisciplinary approach, we apply intellectual property and commercial expertise, together with specialist skills in science and technology, to create major product opportunities in the health and high tech sectors. BTG has commercialised important innovations, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Multilevel Cell Memory, Campath (alemtuzumab), the first monoclonal antibody treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, and recombinant Factor IX blood clotting protein. BTG operates through wholly owned subsidiaries BTG International Ltd and BTG International Inc in the UK and USA, respectively.

More News:
  • For April 2007
  • From BTG
  • For Polymer OLED Devices