BioVersys, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm, and British drugmaker GSK have expanded their partnership to expedite the clinical development of alpibectir (BVL-GSK098) for tuberculosis (TB) treatment.
Alpibectir is a small molecule, which is currently undergoing assessment in combination with ethionamide (Eto) in a Phase 2a proof-of-concept trial in pulmonary TB patients in South Africa.
The small molecule and ethionamide fixed-dose combination received orphan drug designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December last year.
Alpibectir is the result of a public-private collaboration between GSK, Pasteur Institute Lille, and the University of Lille.
The expanded partnership between GSK and the Switzerland-based BioVersys follows the existing deal for the current Phase 2a trial.
Both parties will now advance alpibectir in TB meningitis programmes, aiming to make it available to patients as early as possible.
BioVersys CEO and founder Marc Gitzinger said: “Together with GSK, we successfully advanced the development of alpibectir for TB, having recently completed the TRIC-TB public-private partnership program with the delivery of a Phase 2-ready anti-TB molecule.
“We look forward to further expanding this collaboration with GSK beyond our ongoing Phase 2a evaluation of alpibectir, as we seek to deliver a new treatment regimen for TB, a disease that poses a serious threat to public health worldwide and which is severely underserved by current therapies.”
Under the expanded partnership, GSK has taken part in BioVersys’ extended Series C financing round of CHF12.3m.
The Swiss biopharmaceutical company has secured CHF44.9m in total in its Series C round.
According to BioVersys, the additional funds will support the clinical advancement of the company’s portfolio.
BioVersys’ portfolio also includes BV100, a hospital antibiotic candidate designed to fight Acinetobacter baumannii, a bacterial pathogen.
GSK chief global health officer Thomas Breuer said: “GSK is committed to changing the trajectory of tuberculosis and we’re excited to expand our partnership with BioVersys in the continued development of alpibectir, a drug candidate with the potential to broaden the treatment options for TB.
“We believe that working in partnership on priorities that are aligned to and support global health challenges gives both companies the opportunity to achieve maximum health impact at scale.”
