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GlaxoSmithKline and Vertex Announce New Collaboration to Develop and Commercialize VX-409, a Novel Compound for the Treatment of Pain
GlaxoSmithKline and Vertex Announce New Collaboration to Develop and Commercialize VX-409, a Novel Compound for the Treatment of Pain.
About this update from Vortex Energy Corp.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\n\n- VX-409 is first in a new class of subtype selective ion channel modulators -\n\nCAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 13 /CNW/ -- GlaxoSmithKline\n(NYSE: GSK) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) announced\ntoday that they have entered into a new agreement to develop and commercialize\nVX-409, Vertex's novel, subtype selective sodium channel modulator for the\ntreatment of pain. VX-409 is the first of a new class of agents targeting\nspecific pain signals in nerve cells. Under the terms of the agreement, GSK\nwill have the exclusive right and license to develop and commercialize VX-409\nand back-up compounds worldwide. Vertex will receive a $20 million up-front\npayment and could receive up to an additional $385 million in development and\nsales threshold milestone payments based on the development of VX-409 and\nback-up compounds in major pharmaceutical markets across a range of\nindications. GSK will also pay Vertex royalties on annual net sales.\nDr. Jackie Hunter, Senior Vice President, Neurology and GI Centre of\nExcellence for Drug Discovery, GSK commented, \"This is another example of\nGSK's commitment to invest in external opportunities which complement our\nexisting disease area expertise and maximize our development of innovative and\nbest-in-class medicines to address unmet medical needs in key clinical areas.\"\n\"GlaxoSmithKline is a leader in the development of new treatments for\nchronic and acute pain, and we are pleased to join with GSK to develop and\ncommercialize VX-409 for the treatment of a variety of pain indications,\" said\nJoshua Boger, Ph.D., Chairman, President and CEO of Vertex. \"VX-409 may have\nthe potential to change the future management of pain, based on the clinical\nconfirmation of the compound's profile.\"\n\nAbout VX-409 and Pain\nVX-409 is a leading agent in a new class of investigational therapies\ntargeting pain treatment through selective modulation of sodium channels in\nnerve cells. Specific sodium channels are involved in transmitting sensory\ninput, including the transmission of pain signals to the central nervous\nsystem, making them attractive targets for new pain treatments. As an oral,\nsubtype selective sodium channel modulator, VX-409 has been shown to be orally\nbioavailable, highly active and has exhibited a good safety profile in\nnonclinical models of both n...