BioWorld International Correspondent

Axovan AG, a Swiss drug discovery firm focused on G protein-coupled receptors, entered its first external R&D collaboration, with Biolipox AB, an early stage Swedish firm developing anti-inflammatory drugs for respiratory diseases and other disorders.

Stockholm-based Biolipox was established in June 2000 by scientific founders Hans-Erik Claesson and Magnus Björkholm of the city's Karolinska Institute. Its scientific focus is on the signaling processes associated with the arachidonic acid cascade and nitric oxide release.

Allschwil-based Axovan will use its integrated drug discovery platform to identify a GPCR associated with inflammation and will screen its chemistry library, which is biased toward GPCR ligands, for lead compounds. Biolipox will undertake lead optimization and further development. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Axovan will receive an up-front payment, plus potential milestones and royalties.

Axovan, said Philippe Dro, chief financial officer and head of business development, is capable of participating in up to three such collaborations in parallel, in addition to its own internal programs. "We've been starting our business development activity very recently, and we're in discussions with several [potential] partners for deals," he told BioWorld International.

Axovan's most advanced internal programs, which are still at the preclinical stage, are in the areas of pain, metabolic disease and thrombosis. "We don't have any specific focus right now - our portfolio is pretty broad," Dro said. It in-licensed its lead compound, an injectable endothelin antagonist for the prevention and treatment of vasospasm following subarachnoid brain hemorrhage (SAH), from Basel, Switzerland-based F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. It is in Phase II trials in Europe, and is scheduled to enter U.S. clinical trials next year.

Dro said 75,000 cases of SAH arise in the U.S. and Europe every year. At present, he said, there is no treatment for preventing the occurrence or alleviating the effects of vasospasm. "The mortality rate is very high, and [in addition], you have very high morbidity."