Biovitrum terminates preclinical program in obesity
All rights are returned by GlaxoSmithKline
Biovitrum and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) initiated a collaboration to develop therapies for obesity and other diseases in 2002. In 2003, after a positive clinical phase II trial, the project refocused on the development of new compounds showing higher selectivity for the target. GSK has since then been responsible for the preclinical work and has now decided to discontinue the project. As a consequence, all rights are returned to Biovitrum, which has decided not to develop the compounds further for the obesity indication. According to the company, this has no financial impact for Biovitrum.
During the early phase of the program Biovitrum completed clinical phase II trials with the 5-HT-agonist BVT.993. It was found that BVT.933 significantly reduced body weight in patients without causing any serious side effects. However, the compound was not considered to be sufficiently selective and in 2003 the project was brought back for further preclinical studies. Since then the work has been focused on finding other compounds even more selective for the 5-HT2c receptor. GSK now returns all rights to the project to Biovitrum, which, subsequently, has decided not to develop the compounds further for the obesity indication. However, the compounds will be evaluated for other indications.
Other news from the department research and development

Get the life science industry in your inbox
By submitting this form you agree that LUMITOS AG will send you the newsletter(s) selected above by email. Your data will not be passed on to third parties. Your data will be stored and processed in accordance with our data protection regulations. LUMITOS may contact you by email for the purpose of advertising or market and opinion surveys. You can revoke your consent at any time without giving reasons to LUMITOS AG, Ernst-Augustin-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany or by e-mail at revoke@lumitos.com with effect for the future. In addition, each email contains a link to unsubscribe from the corresponding newsletter.