APT Therapeutics inks deal with AstraZeneca

Privately-held US biotech firm APT Therapeutics has entered into a research collaboration, option and asset purchase agreement with Anglo-Swedish pharma major AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN).

APT Therapeutics has applied proprietary protein engineering strategies to develop APT102, an innovative human apyrase therapy for the treatment of thrombotic diseases. Uniquely different than current Food and Drug Administration-approved antithrombotic drugs that can increase bleeding risk, APT102 attenuated clot formation without causing bleeding in animal models of heart attack and stroke. APT102 has also been shown in animal models to mitigate bleeding associated with current antithrombotic medications. Moreover, APT102 has demonstrated a fast onset of action in animal models, giving it potential to fulfill an unmet need in prehospital settings where “time is heart and brain.”

Under terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will make an undisclosed upfront cash payment to APT. The latter will be eligible to receive future payments on the achievement of certain key development milestones. AstraZeneca will fund all future clinical trials for heart attack and/or stroke.