Medivir and Biovitrum Initiate Research Collaboration in Diabetes

19-Jul-2004

Medivir and Biovitrum announce that they initiate a research collaboration to meet the significant and growing medical need in type 2 diabetes.

The intent of the collaboration is to combine the strengths of the two companies and develop a candidate drug for type 2 diabetes. Biovitrum is specializing in metabolic diseases and has ongoing clinical and preclinical research programs in this area. Medivir has superior protease expertise and technologies that complement this research.

"We have identified the metabolic area as strategically interesting and by linking into Biovitrum´s already ongoing project we get a sound start to our engagement in this very attractive therapy area. It is a source of pride that our competence in the protease area gives us this possibility. It once again shows that our expertise in the protease inhibition area enables a considerable broadening of our research portfolio. In a short time Medivir has gone from being a HIVcompany to a company standing on several therapeutic pillars, which lessens the risk with our business model", says Lars Adlersson, Medivir´s CEO and President.

The agreement stipulates clear research objectives and commercial terms for the further development and commercialization of future products.

"We are pleased that we can leverage our disease area expertise and collaborate with a recognized leader specializing in the target class to solve a treme ndous unmet medical need. Biovitrum is dedicated to become a leading developer of metabolic diseases drugs and view collaborations with technology specialists like Medivir as a key strategy to achieve our goals", says Mats Pettersson, CEO, Biovitrum.

More than 160 million people suffer from type 2 Diabetes in the world today. This number is growing rapidly fueled by the obesity epidemic and is believed to reach 300 million patients by 2025. The need for new and effective pharmaceutical treatment is significant.

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/38565/medivir-and-biovitrum-initiate-research-collaboration-in-diabetes.html