Biotica agreement with Wyeth for novel rapamycin analogs

Biotica Technology, UK-based biotechnology company, has entered an exclusive research collaboration and license agreement with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth.

The alliance is focused on the discovery, development and commercialisation of novel rapamycin analogs that target diseases in multiple therapeutic areas.

Biotica has granted Wyeth worldwide rights to its most advanced drug candidates, a portfolio of additional rapamycin analogs, and the technology to discover new compounds. The companies will collaborate on a multi-product discovery program from which compounds will be selected for devel-opment and commercialisation by Wyeth.

Biotica will receive an initial payment, research support and milestone payments. Potential payments to Biotica could total up to US$195m for the successful development and commercialisation of multiple products.

Biotica will also receive royalties on product sales.

This alliance is based on Biotica's biosynthetic engineering technology that can be used to create compounds that are not readily accessible through conventional synthetic chemistry.

Wyeth has experience with rapamycin and its analogs both with its currently marketed immuno-suppressant, Rapamune (sirolimus) and with tem-sirolimus (CCI-779) which is in late-stage clinical development for the treatment of cancer. Through the alliance with Biotica, Wyeth will gain access to novel, proprietary rapamycin analogs which will allow it to develop its growing franchise with this emerging class of therapeutics.