Spero Therapeutics gains rights to novel anti-infectives developed at HZI

Ascenion, the technology transfer partner of Germany’s Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), has negotiated a licence agreement providing USA-based biotech company Spero Therapeutics with exclusive rights to develop and commercialize a series of novel anti-infective compounds discovered at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), an HZI branch.

Under the terms of the dealt, the HZI is entitled to milestone and royalty payments in line with project progress. In addition, Ascenion has acquired an equity stake in Spero Therapeutics. Potential returns from the future sale of equity will flow to the LifeScience Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Research and eventually be made available for translational research projects of the originating institution. Spero Therapeutics and HIPS have also agreed to collaborate on the early development of the HIPS compounds.

Mix of equity with milestones and royalties keeps the entry barriers low