AstraZeneca has signed an exclusive global license agreement with Synairgen Plc, a company specializing in respiratory diseases, for SNG001, an inhaled interferon beta (IFN-beta) in clinical development for treating respiratory tract viral infections in patients with severe asthma. SNG001 supports the immune system by correcting a deficiency which makes patients vulnerable to respiratory tract viral infections.

Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will pay Synairgen a $7.25-million upfront fee and potential development, regulatory, and commercial milestones of up to $225 million. In addition, AstraZeneca will pay tiered royalties ranging from single-digit up to mid-teens on commercial sales. AstraZeneca will be responsible for future development costs.

In early 2015, AstraZeneca will begin a Phase IIa study in patients with severe asthma, building on available clinical data from an initial Phase lla trial in a broad asthma population. SNG001 also provides the opportunity to expand the clinical program in other pulmonary diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  

Synairgen is a respiratory drug development company founded by Professors Stephen Holgate, Donna Davies, and Ratko Djukanovic at the University of Southampton in the UK.

Source: AstraZeneca