GlaxoSmithKline bags rights to Futura's pain drug TPR100; Biospherics gets patent to develop Dtagatose from Kentucky University

Futura Medical, a UK developer of innovative products for consumer health care, has signed a development agreement with UK drug giant GlaxoSmithKline for the development of TPR100, the company's novel, topically applied product for pain relief.

Under the terms of the deal, GSK will fully fund and be responsible for all clinical and regulatory development. GSK will also pay modest annual payments to Futura while development work proceeds. Subject to satisfactory clinical outcomes and regulatory approvals both parties expect to enter into a commercial distribution agreement in due course. Further financial details were not revealed.

This is GSK's second consumer health product accord in a matter of weeks. On June 23, it announced that it had acquired exclusive commercialization and distribution rights from Medivir for the cold sore treatment, Xerclear (acyclovir and hydrocortisone) for non-prescription use in key global markets, including Europe, Russia, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand. The agreement excludes North and South America, China, South Korea and Israel, for which it paid an upfront 3 million euros ($3.7 million) plus milestones and royalties. Xerclear is the first and only topical herpes labialis (cold sores) treatment clinically proven to help prevent cold sore lesions appearing.