PharmaVentures Engaged by Avexa to Assist in the Out-licensing of Apricitabine

OXFORD, England, July 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

PharmaVentures Limited, experts in deals and alliances, are pleased to announce that they have been engaged by Avexa Limited to seek an out-licensing partner for apricitabine (ATC), a late-stage, novel treatment for HIV infection.  The engagement will utilise PharmaVentures' global transactional expertise in the healthcare and investment business sectors.

Dr Fintan Walton, CEO, PharmaVentures, commented, "We are delighted to have been chosen by Avexa to assist in achieving its business goal of maximising the return on investment in its development compound apricitabine (ATC).  With 20 years' experience of deals and alliances, PharmaVentures can provide Avexa with immediate access to extensive licensing expertise and a network of key decision makers in relevant companies."

Iain Kirkwood, Chairman of Avexa, said, "The appointment of PharmaVentures to work with and complement our management team is the next logical step in the commercialisation of ATC following our successful regulatory meeting with the FDA earlier this year. PharmaVentures have an excellent reputation and track record in this area."

ATC is a novel nucleoside, a class of compound known to be a vital component of anti-HIV therapy.  ATC offers a new extension to existing therapies in the treatment of drug-resistant HIV, especially for those patients with limited remaining therapeutic options.

PharmaVentures is a leading life sciences transaction advisory firm with strong capabilities in finding and evaluating opportunities and negotiating deals.  The licensing team has an established track record in generating outstanding value for PharmaVentures' clients and has assisted in over 100 transactions in the past 20 years.  

About PharmaVentures Limited

PharmaVentures Limited (http://www.pharmaventures.com) is a leading international corporate advisory firm supporting its clients' growth ambitions in the health care industry. It has considerable experience and expertise in the field of tangible and intangible transactions, providing advice at both a strategic level, as well as acting as advisor and broker at an implementation level. Its transactional experience includes licensing, joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions and divestments. Its clients are worldwide, including Europe, the USA and AsiaPacific. Clients range from start-ups to global pharmaceutical corporations, diversified industrial corporations, investment houses and government bodies. It also produces the highly popular PharmaDeals® (http://www.pharmadeals.net) range of intelligence products including databases, deals analysis and reports as well as the world's first dedicated online pharmaceutical television channel PharmaTelevision® (http://www.pharmatelevision.com).  Now in its 20th year, PharmaVentures is based in Oxford, UK, and employs over 30 people.

About Avexa Limited

Avexa Limited (http://www.avexa.com.au) is a Melbourne-based biotechnology company with a focus on discovery, development and commercialisation of small molecules for the treatment of infectious diseases. Avexa's key projects include apricitabine (ATC) for the treatment of drug-resistant HIV, an HIV integrase program and an antibiotic program for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.

For enquiries regarding this licensing opportunity or how we can help your company to achieve its business goals, please contact:

Kevin Bottomley
Head of Transactions
PharmaVentures Ltd.
kevin.bottomley@pharmaventures.com
+44-7931-144097