BioCentury
ARTICLE | Strategy

Biovitrum checks the boxes

August 29, 2005 7:00 AM UTC

Biovitrum AB went from being a Phase II company to a preclinical company after its two lead products failed in 2003 and 2004. Since then, the Swedish company has replenished its pipeline, acquiring several clinical stage projects this year. Its latest move last week added a Phase II compound to its portfolio. By the end of next year, Biovitrum hopes to have seven to nine compounds in the clinic, which should put it in good shape for an IPO.

Biovitrum ran into a roadblock when its two lead compounds failed in Phase II trials. BVT.933, a serotonin (5-HT2C) receptor agonist for obesity, was partnered with GlaxoSmithKline plc, and BVT.3498, a small molecule inhibitor of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11b HSD-1) for diabetes, was partnered with Amgen Inc. Another product, BVT.74713, a lipid appetite suppressor against an undisclosed target, was terminated after Phase I (see BioCentury, Nov. 15, 2004). ...