British Biotech's pipeline

OXFORD - British Biotech plc started on its rehabilitation with the U.K. analyst community by providing details of its research pipeline last Friday. With question marks hanging over the credibility of the unblinded trials of both its marimastat oral matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor for cancer and its Zacutex PAF antagonist for acute pancreatitis, BBG is under pressure to show that it has other products in the pipeline.

The company has completed a strategic review of its discovery research programs. Research Director Alan Drummond told the meeting that BBG has concluded that there should be an increased focus on its proteinase inhibitor research - specifically the metalloproteinases and the cysteine proteinases - while the focus on protein-based drugs is to be reduced...