AstraZeneca and AVANIR sign research alliance

AstraZeneca (AZ) has signed an exclusive global licensing and research collaboration agreement with AVANIR Pharmaceuticals to discover, develop and commercialise Reverse Cholesterol Transport (RCT) enhancing compounds, through directly increasing the flow of lipids from blood vessel walls, for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

RCT is a natural process that involves the flow of cholesterol from tissues, including the walls of blood vessels, and its subsequent transport to the liver for metabolism and removal from the body. The process requires a variety of specialised transporter molecules and carrier proteins to take cholesterol out of body tissues into the liver. Once cholesterol is taken up by the liver, it can then be transported to the gall bladder for excretion.

The enhancement of this pathway could also offer a more effective process for protecting blood vessels from vascular disease induced by abnormal blood lipids. Current agents are effective in prevention of the fuller development of additional lipid rich plaque, but have yet to be proved in regressing or decreasing the existing plaque burden.

'AZ has a strategic commitment to find new treatments for dyslipidaemia, and RCT is an exciting therapeutic area for us,' said Gunnar Olsson, head of the Cardiovascular Therapy Area, AZ. 'We wish to build on our existing strengths and this alliance will open up new opportunities in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

AVANIR will receive an upfront payment of US$10m, and is eligible for milestone payments totaling up to US$330m, contingent upon achievement of development and regulatory milestones and on achievement of sales targets. AZ will assume responsibility for development and for product discovery and development costs, with both parties contributing scientific expertise in the research collaboration.