GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has terminated the research agreement with Medivir AB for the developmental HIV compound MIV-210, as the compound doesn't satisfy GSK's desired profile. Based on preclinical data, provided by Medivir and GSK, including the resistance profiling of MIV-210, Medivir has decided to focus the further development of MIV-210 into drug experienced patients, a release from Medivir said here.

Medivir will initiate a phase IIa study in HIV drug experienced patients. It is expected that the trial will commence during 2005, at an estimated cost of less than 1 MUSD. The results from this trial should determine the effectiveness of MIV-210 in the treatment of drug experienced HIV patients, which represent a rapidly growing and disadvantaged segment of the HIV market, the release added.

"We have been very pleased with GSK as a partner for MIV-210. GSK's committed work has added key information and value to the project. Based on the currently available compound- and market data, Medivir has decided to continue the clinical development of MIV-210 at full speed, towards new commercial possibilities," says Medivir's CEO Lars Adlersson.

Medivir is located in Huddinge, Sweden and near Cambridge, UK. Medivir's research is oriented on developing new drug compounds based on polymerases and proteases as target enzymes.