Cyclophilin Race

Novartis AG has built a competitive bulwark around its hepatitis C program by in-licensing a more advanced competitor to one of its own compounds from Debiopharm S.A. The pharma also gained four years on the patent clock.

Alisporivir (Debio 025), an oligopeptide cyclophilin inhibitor delivered orally, is in Phase IIb trials, while Novartis' NIM811, an oral small molecule, is in Phase II testing...