BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

Biota Pharmaceuticals infectious news

April 22, 2013 7:00 AM UTC

Biota said it will reduce headcount by about 30 (27%) to 80 over the "next several quarters" to save cash. The cuts will be concentrated on R&D functions dedicated to drug discovery, but will also come from other areas including general and administrative. Biota closed its facility in Rockville and expects to complete the relocation of its U.S. headquarters to Atlanta, Ga., next month. The company will shift its focus to its clinical-stage programs that it can independently advance into late-stage development from early stage research. Biota may also in-license, acquire, co-develop and enter similar deals for clinical-stage development opportunities.

The biotech will continue to develop laninamivir octanoate ( CS-8958) to treat influenza A and B infection in the U.S. under a 2011 contract worth up to $231 million over 5 years with HHS's Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). This quarter, Biota plans to begin a Phase II trial in the Southern Hemisphere of the second-generation, long-acting neuraminidase inhibitor (LANI). The product is marketed as Inavir in Japan, where Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4568; Osaka:4568, Tokyo, Japan) has rights. ...