Aventis Pharmaceuticals and ViroPharma form U.S. Co-Promotion And Co-Development Collaboration

11-Sep-2001

Frankfurt, Germany, September 10, 2001 – Aventis Pharmaceuticals and ViroPharma Incorporated announced that they have formed a collaboration to co-develop and co-promote ViroPharma’s Picovir™ (pleconaril) in the United States. Picovir™ is a first-of-a-kind oral antiviral product being studied for the treatment of viral respiratory infection (VRI), otherwise known as the common cold. The compound is licensed by ViroPharma from Sanofi-Synthelabo for the United States and Canada.

Picovir™ works by specifically inhibiting the function of the picornavirus capsid, a protective shell of the virus that is essential for virus infectivity and transmission. Picornaviruses are the primary cause of viral respiratory infection. ViroPharma submitted a new drug application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on July 31, 2001, seeking approval for the use of Picovir™ to treat VRI in adults.

As part of the agreement, ViroPharma receives an initial payment of $25 million from Aventis. ViroPharma will also receive cash payments from Aventis based upon the achievement of certain milestones. Each of the payments is dependent upon reaching certain regulatory and other milestones. If Picovir™ is approved by the FDA, Aventis will distribute and record revenues from sales of Picovir™, and both companies will share profits; 55 percent to Aventis and 45 percent to ViroPharma. ViroPharma will co-promote certain Aventis Pharmaceuticals prescription products to primary care physicians in the United States, and will receive detailing fees from Aventis for such calls.

According to the National Institutes of Health, there are approximately 1 billion colds annually in the United States. Currently, 52 million physician visits are attributable to patients with VRI, yet there are no antiviral treatments available for these patients. Patients often take a variety of prescription or over-the-counter medications for VRI, however these medications do not treat the underlying cause of the disease, the virus.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/4638/aventis-pharmaceuticals-and-viropharma-form-u-s-co-promotion-and-co-development-collaboration.html