Cadila Pharma signs licensing deal with UK's Helperby

However, the deal value hasn't been disclosed

Ahmedabad-based privately held pharma major Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited and UK based antibiotics discovery major Helperby Therapeutics have signed a joint agreement on antibiotic drug resistance research & development. The deal value was undisclosed.

A company statement here said, "This announcement is a major breakthrough in the fight against resistance with the discovery of patented ‘resistance breaker’ compounds.These new compounds are called Antibiotic Resistance Breakers." When an antibiotic resistance breaker is combined with an old obsolete antibiotic, it can rejuvenate it and make it active against highly resistant bacteria.

Furthermore, this approach requires the development of fewer novel compounds, is less risky and less costly than the traditional “one antibiotic” route, the release claimed.

Cadila Pharmaceuticals will take the new discovery through phase III and into commercialisation. The company is now actively considering a presence in the UK.