Concert Pharmaceuticals and GlaxoSmithKline to develop deuterium modified drugs
To collaborate on developing deuterium-containing medicines
Concert Pharmaceuticals and GlaxoSmithKline are to collaborate on developing deuterium-containing medicines. The deal includes three of Concert's r&d programmes: CTP-518, a protease inhibitor for the treatment of HIV, which is expected to enter Phase I clinical trials in the second half of 2009; a preclinical compound for chronic renal disease, and a third research product in Concert's pipeline. Concert will also provide GSK with deuterium-modified versions of three GSK pipeline compounds for development.
Deuterium is a non-radioactive relative of hydrogen that can be isolated from seawater and used in human metabolic and clinical studies.
Lexington, US-based Concert will receive upfront payments of US$35m, including a $16.7m equity investment by GSK. Concert has the potential to receive more than $1bn in total milestone and upfront payments from GSK spread across all programmes.
"This agreement marks GSK's continued efforts to access the best science and technology platforms worldwide," said Patrick Vallance, senior vice-president of drug discovery at GSK. "We believe Concert's approach to deuterium modification of medicines has broad potential to enhance certain drug properties and result in innovative new medicines."
