CHINESE DRUGMAKER LICENSES ANTIVIRAL FROM MEDIVIR

Guangdong Lantai Viewland Pharmaceutical, based in China, has signed a licensing agreement with Medivir for the rights to MIV-160, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) for the treatment of HIV in late preclinical development.

Under the terms of the agreement, Guangdong will make a payment to Medivir by transferring equity. In addition, Guangdong will pay royalties on sales of MIV-160. Guangdong will have responsibility for the development of MIV-160 and commercialization of the drug in China. Medivir retains the rights to MIV-160 for all others territories.

MIV-160 exhibits excellent properties against HIV that is resistant to other NNRTIs, according to the companies. The drug could be developed for oral and topical use. Guangdong could potentially develop MIV-160 as an oral treatment regime, a microbicide and a coating for condoms.