Anacor Signs Deal With Schering-Plough for AN2690, a New Topical Anti-Fungal Treatment
Anacor has signed a deal with Schering-Plough for a new topical anti-fungal product called AN2690. It is used to treat onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nail and nail bed that affects about 10 percent of the U.S. population. Under terms of the deal Anacor will be paid $40 million upfront with an additional $10 million in financing from Schering-Plough. Schering-Plough will be responsible for all development costs with Anacor retaining the right to co-promote the drug in the US. Anacor will also receive double digit royalties if it does make it to the market. AN2690 is in phase II clinical trials.
What is interesting is the structure of AN2690 shown below.
Not many drugs have a boron atom in them and so it is very interesting. Anacor claims that this compound inhibits a validated drug target and works in a totally unique and unprecedented way.
One of the main problems with fungus of the nail bed is penetration to get at the infection deep down. Other treatments are oral medications and therefore work systemically. Also, Lamsil as well as Sporanox (itraconazole) capsules have had an FDA public health advisory issued warning physicians about adverse hepatic events and an association with congestive heart failure associated with both of these drugs. Definitely not something you want to risk for a simple thickened fingernail of toenail.
Topicals haven’t had a lot of success in this area so it will be interesting to see how this works. Anacor claims AN2690 penetrates 200 times better than the only other approved product. There is definitely interest in this since the market for onychomycosis is a $1.5 billion dollar market.
Anacor also has piblished some data on this compound.
Microbiological Activity Of AN2690, A New Antifungal Agent (pdf)
Other Resources
ANACOR SIGNS WORLDWIDE EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH SCHERING-PLOUGH FOR AN2690, A NEW TOPICAL ANTI-FUNGAL TREATMENT
Schering-Plough Cites Today’s Anacor Agreement as Latest in Series of Deals
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Technorati Tags: AN2690, Anacor, pharmaceutical deals, anti-fungal, Schering-Plough
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