SCYNEXIS Signs Deal With R-Pharm to Develop and Market Novel Antifungal Compound in Russia and Other Markets
First Oral Glucan Synthase Inhibitor Ready to Enter Phase 2 Trials
MOSCOW, RUSSIA and RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC -- (Marketwired) -- 09/10/13 -- Drug discovery company SCYNEXIS, Inc. and R-Pharm today announced that they have entered into an agreement granting R-Pharm exclusive rights to develop and commercialize SCY-078 in Russia and several other markets. SCYNEXIS retains the rights to market the compound in The Americas, Europe and Asia. SCY-078 is an oral glucan synthase inhibitor being developed for the treatment of systemic fungal diseases such as candidemia and aspergillosis.
"Glucan synthase inhibitors have been very effective in treating invasive fungal infections in a hospital setting, but are currently only available as an intravenous dosing option," said Alexey Repik, president and chairman, R-Pharm. "As the first oral glucan synthase inhibitor, SCY-078 could prove very useful in markets where intravenous dosing options have resulted in undertreatment or treatment limitations."
"This partnership with R-Pharm is an important milestone in the advancement of SCY-078 toward Phase 2 clinical development and beyond," said Yves Ribeill, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, SCYNEXIS. "We welcome R-Pharm's contributions to the development and commercialization of SCY-078, which provides us access to some very important and potentially large markets, including Russia."
Under the terms of this agreement, R-Pharm will develop and register SCY-078 in its territories including Russia, The Commonwealth of Independent States and Turkey. SCYNEXIS receives an upfront payment and is entitled to receive payments on development and commercialization milestones and royalties. Further details of the agreement are not disclosed.
About SCY-078
SCY-078 (formerly MK-3118) is the first oral glucan synthase inhibitor being developed for the treatment of systemic fungal diseases. SCY-078 is a semi-synthetic derivative of the natural product enfumafungin -- a structurally distinct class of glucan synthase inhibitors. Glucan synthase inhibitors have been very effective in treating invasive fungal infections in a hospital setting but are currently only available as an intravenous dosing option. Multiple Phase 1 studies have been completed on this novel compound, and data were presented at the 49th and 50th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) and published in multiple journals including the May 2012 issue of Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters and the November 2012 issue of the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.
About SCYNEXIS
SCYNEXIS delivers innovative solutions to solve the toughest problems in drug discovery and development for our pharmaceutical, global health and life science partners. Our contract research and development services include Integrated Pharmaceutical Solutions, Discovery Research and Integrated Parasitology. We have successfully delivered preclinical and clinical drug candidates to our customers across all major therapeutic indications and have developed our own proprietary cyclophilin inhibitor programs for the treatment of a broad range of diseases, including HCV, HBV and inflammation. For more information, visit www.scynexis.com.
About R-Pharm
R-Pharm is a Russian private high-tech pharmaceutical company with focus on hospital/specialty care, founded in 2001. R-Pharm has over 2,800 employees and covers the entire territory of Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States. The company is involved in research and development, manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution of innovative pharmaceutical and biotech products. For more information, visit www.r-pharm.com.
For further information about SCYNEXIS:
Michael Garrett
Vice President, Corporate Development
mike.garrett@scynexis.com
Tel: +1 919 206 7248
SCYNEXIS Media Contact:
Rick Rountree
Rountree Communications, Inc.
rick@rickrountree.com
Tel: +1 919 878 1144
For further information about R-Pharm:
Evgenya Kasyanenkko
PR manager, R-Pharm
kasyanenko@rpharm.ru
Tel: +7 903 220 54 97
Alexey Ordzhonikidze
Marketing Director, R-Pharm
Ordzhonikidze@rpharm.ru
Tel: +7 903 798 28 29
Source: SCYNEXIS
Released September 10, 2013