Replies to post #67959 on Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

How far along was the program? AZN never talks about it as far as I know.

[DewDiligence]

NVS evidently passed on GNLB’s NS5A program: see the bold-faced section of this PR about ¾ of the way down: #msg-11431616.

GNLB is still nominally partnered with NVS on a non-nuke HCV polymerase inhibitor (#msg-30203067), but this program is in the ultra-slow lane and it’s doubtful that it was the impetus for the GSK buyout.

I think GSK is almost certainly buying GNLB for the NS5A program. The HEV vaccine is perhaps a modest kicker.

[DewDiligence]

Re: HCV programs that target NS5A

Other than the GNLB program that was just munched by GSK, there’s are two that I’m aware of:

1. The AZN program you mentioned that was acquired by way of Arrow Therapeutics in 2007 (#msg-16682361); and

2. The preclinical program that XTLB sold to Presidio Pharma for peanuts in early 2008 (#msg-27791536).

As I noted previously, AZN never talks about its NS5A program, which makes me wonder if it is still active.

If anyone knows of NS5A programs for HCV other than the ones cited here, please post.