Fulford to seek commercialisation agreements for iclaprim outside the USA
Motif Bio plc (AIM: MTFB), the clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specialising in developing novel antibiotics, announces the appointment of specialist adviser The Fulford Group Ltd (“The Fulford Group”) to assist Motif in developing and implementing strategies to commercialise iclaprim, the Company’s lead antibiotic currently in pivotal Phase 3 trials for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs), in territories outside of the USA.
The Company expects that such partnerships could provide the Company with additional development capital in the form of upfront payments, milestone payments and ongoing royalty fees. The appointment of The Fulford Group, a specialist strategic adviser in the healthcare sector, is an important step towards the commercialisation of iclaprim.
Motif intends to commericalise iclaprim directly in the USA.
Graham Lumsden, CEO of Motif Bio, stated: “The future commercialisation of iclaprim is a key driver of value for the business, particularly its potential as an antibiotic treatment for serious and life-threatening infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria. Dosing has now begun in our two Phase 3 clinical trials and successful completion of these trials will satisfy FDA and EMA requirements for regulatory approval. With trials expected to complete in the second half of 2017, we are keen to begin engaging with strategic partners to commercialise our lead product candidate whilst retaining the all-important rights for iclaprim in the US, the largest pharmaceutical market in the World. I am confident that The Fulford Group will be instrumental in the delivery of such partnerships.”
For further information please contact:
Motif Bio plc
Graham Lumsden (Chief Executive Officer)
David Huang (Chief Medical Officer)
info@motifbio.com
Zeus Capital Limited (NOMAD & BROKER)
Phil Walker/Dan Bate
Dominic Wilson
+44 (0)20 3829 5000
Northland Capital Partners Limited (BROKER)
Patrick Claridge/ David Hignell
John Howes/ Rob Rees (Broking)
+44 (0)20 7382 1100
Walbrook PR Ltd. (FINANCIAL PR & IR)
Paul McManus
Mike Wort
+44 (0)20 7933 8780 or motifbio@walbrookpr.com
Mob: +44 (0)7980 541 893
Mob: +44 (0)7900 608 002
MC Services AG (EUROPEAN IR)
Raimund Gabriel
+49 (0)89 210 2280
About Motif Bio (www.motifbio.com)
Motif is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, specialising in the development of novel antibiotics that are designed to be effective against serious and life-threatening infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria. Our lead product candidate, iclaprim, is being developed for the treatment of the most common and serious bacterial infections such as acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and hospital acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP), including those caused by resistant strains such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Two Phase III ABSSSI clinical trials are on track to be completed in 2H17 and if approved, iclaprim could be ready for commercialisation in 2018. The HABP trial is expected to start 2H16.
The Company is in discussions with pharmaceutical companies and universities to build a pipeline of innovative antibiotics targeting Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
About The Fulford Group (www.thefulfordgroup.com)
The Fulford Group was founded by Dr. Wilder Fulford, who has over 25 years’ experience in life sciences M&A and corporate finance, and extensive recent experience in pharmaceutical licensing and partnering transactions. Dr. Fulford founded the London office of Torreya Partners, a specialist life sciences advisory firm, in 2011. Prior to that he was Head of European Healthcare M&A at Deutsche Bank, Head of European Healthcare Investment Banking at Bank of America, and Head of European Healthcare, Chemicals and Basic Materials M&A at Merrill Lynch. He began his career in New York, working for a number of years as a venture capitalist, and then as an M&A banker at James D. Wolfensohn Inc. and as a partner at Salomon Brothers. He has a PhD in molecular biology from the Rockefeller University in New York.
