Shire joins forces to fight HIV/AIDS
Shire Pharmaceuticals has licenced its HIV/AIDS drug, SPD754, to Australian firm Avexa. As a result, Shire, subject to shareholder approval, will obtain £826,000 equity in Avexa and retain an option to acquire a further 4 million shares, assuming successful future trials.
Avexa will be responsible for worldwide development and marketing of the new drug, excluding North American marketing rights, which have been retained by Shire.
'Out-licensing to Avexa is an important step in this process and provides us with a greater r&d focus on our core markets,' said Matthew Emmens, chief executive, Shire.