BioVersys And Shionogi Join Forces In Global Research Deal For Broad-Spectrum Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) Drug Candidate

BioVersys AG, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing new antibacterial therapies for life-threatening infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, has entered into a research and exclusive license option agreement with Japan-based Shionogi & Co., Ltd. The collaboration aims to advance novel ansamycin-based compounds from BioVersys’ BV500 program into clinical development.

As part of the agreement, BioVersys will receive CHF 5.0 million in upfront and near-term research payments. Upon selection of clinical candidates, Shionogi will have the option to license the compounds, triggering potential future payments of up to CHF 479 million in regulatory and sales milestones. BioVersys will also be eligible to receive tiered royalties on any global product sales.

The BV500 program, which originates from BioVersys’ proprietary Ansamycin Chemistry platform, focuses on developing oral therapies with strong activity against non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). The research teams based in Lille, France, and Basel, Switzerland, have generated multiple potent, orally bioavailable lead compounds with broad-spectrum anti-NTM activity that are not cross-resistant with existing treatments.

Dr. Marc Gitzinger, CEO & Co-founder, said in a statement, “We are excited to work with our colleagues at Shionogi to advance the development of our NTM asset expeditiously towards patients in need. This collaboration reduces research and development risk for BioVersys while preserving financial discipline. It also expands the reach of our pipeline and ensures the expedited development of our drug candidates. Shionogi is an ideal partner for this programme, given its expertise and commitment in infectious diseases and the company’s global reach. Partnerships like this one strongly benefit patients and other stakeholders. Beyond the BV500 program, BioVersys remains on track to initiate the Phase 3 trial for our most advanced asset BV100 later this year and we look forward to updating our stakeholders on the progress.”

John Keller, Ph.D. Director of the Board, Senior Vice President, R&D Supervisory Unit at Shionogi & Co., Ltd., mentioned, “We are pleased to announce this partnership with BioVersys. This collaboration reflects our commitment to advancing innovative treatments for infectious diseases with significant unmet medical needs, and Shionogi will be bringing our scientific knowledge and operational capabilities fully to bear to maximize the potential of BioVersys’ BV500 program.”

Dr. Nawaz Khan, Head of Research at BioVersys, commented, “BV500 has the potential to become a best in class therapeutic for NTM infections. We are proud that the program attracted such a strong partner. This is a validation of our work and will accelerate the development of the project. We look forward to the partnership with our colleagues at Shionogi and to the opportunity to leverage a broad range of complementary expertise.”

During the collaboration, both companies will work to identify clinical candidates and backup molecules. Shionogi will have exclusive rights to license selected compounds for further clinical development and global commercialization. The BV500 program emerged from a successful public-private partnership through SmartLab with the University of Lille, supporting early-stage innovation in antibiotic research. Additional support has been provided by the CF AMR Syndicate and the EU IHI-funded RespiriNTM program, which will continue contributing to the development of the BV500 candidates.