AstraZeneca, LegoChem Biosciences To Co-Develop Novel Antibiotics

AstraZeneca has licensed an antibiotic drug candidate from South Korea’s LegoChem Biosciences to treat drug-resistant bacterial infections.

AsianScientist (Dec. 24, 2012) – AstraZeneca has licensed an antibiotic drug candidate from South Korea’s LegoChem Biosciences to treat drug-resistant bacterial infections.

Despite the steady rise of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, only two new classes of antibiotics have been introduced to the market in the past 30 years.

Using its proprietary LegoChemistry synthesis platform, LegoChem Biosicences, Inc. has developed novel cephalosporin antibiotics that are being examined to treat antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

LegoChem and AstraZeneca will investigate whether combination therapy of a cephalosporin with AstraZeneca’s preclinical beta lactamase inhibitor (BLI) would help to break down the superbugs’ resistance to the treatment.

“We are excited about this opportunity to develop our cephalosporin antibiotic with AstraZeneca’s BLI program. We are impressed with the commitment of AstraZeneca’s team and confident with their expertise in the anti-infective field for the successful collaboration in the development of this combination therapy,” said Yong Zu Kim, LegoChem’s Chief Executive Officer.

Under the terms of the agreement, each company will develop its single agent program through Phase I under the guidance of a joint research committee, and AstraZeneca will develop investigational combinations of compounds through Phase I during the option phase.

AstraZeneca will be solely responsible for the development and commercialization of the candidate combination compound through the option phase, and thereafter if the option is exercised by AstraZeneca.

Under the terms of the collaboration, LegoChem is eligible to receive US$2.45 million in initial and preclinical milestones, US$20 million in development milestones, and US$116.5 million in launch and commercial milestones, as well as tiered royalties.

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Source: AstraZeneca; Photo: AstraZeneca.
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