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<p><b>PLIVA d.d. ANNOUNCES JOINT RESEARCH VENTURE WITH GLAXO WELLCOME PLC TO FIND |
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NEW ANTIBIOTICS TO BEAT TREATMENT RESISTANCE</b></p> |
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<p> Zagreb, 1st February 1999 </p> |
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<p>PLIVA, the largest pharmaceutical company from Central and Eastern Europe, |
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announces that they are today signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the |
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UK-based pharmaceutical company, Glaxo Wellcome plc, for a research collaboration |
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aimed at finding the next generation of macrolide antibiotics, capable of overcoming |
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the growing problem of treatment resistance.</p> |
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<p> The Memorandum of Understanding, while not legally binding, records the intention |
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of the two companies to enter a three-year collaboration involving scientists |
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in Zagreb, Verona and Stevenage. The companies will aim to conclude a formal |
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agreement by the end of March 1999. </p> |
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<p>The collaboration will provide extensive benefits by combining PLIVA's long |
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established macrolide research programme, which has already yielded discoveries |
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like Azithromycin, and Glaxo Wellcome's expertise in microbiology and combinatorial |
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chemistry and their ability in drug development. Both companies have a long |
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and successful track record in the anti-infectives area. </p> |
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<p>The success of macrolides is largely due to their spectrum of activity, covering |
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so-called atypical pathogens, such as chlamydia and mycoplasma. These organisms |
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are increasingly being recognised as causal agents in lower and upper respiratory |
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tract infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, and are intrinsically resistant |
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to many antibiotics. The existing macrolides have been very successful but there |
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is now room for a novel molecule which combines the best properties of existing |
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macrolides, together with activity against resistant bacteria.</p> |
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<p> Mr. Zeljko Covic, PLIVA's CEO, emphasises that: "PLIVA has a long experience |
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especially in medicinal chemistry of complex macrolides proven by the successful |
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invention of Azithromycin, a leading compound in this class. Combining PLIVA |
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and Glaxo Wellcome's expertise will provide genuine synergies and will hopefully |
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accelerate the discovery of the next generation macrolide." </p> |
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<p>During collaboration both companies will share responsibility for activities |
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up to Phase I, with Glaxo Wellcome taking responsibility for clinical development |
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beyond Phase I. On the other hand, PLIVA will be responsible for development |
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of a commercially viable process for the manufacturing of a lead compound. Furthermore, |
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it is envisaged that PLIVA will be the primary production source for active |
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substance. </p> |