CytoFab™ - aiming to prevent thousands of deaths from severe sepsis
Product information: Sepsis is an inflammatory condition, resulting from uncontrolled infection. As the condition progresses, patients require intensive care as their organs fail and the situation becomes life-threatening. Current treatment options for patients are very limited and there are very few products in late stage development.
CytoFab offers real promise for patients with sepsis. Results from a phase 2b clinical study conducted by Protherics suggested that CytoFab decreased mortality and showed patients spent a significantly reduced number of days in the intensive care unit. Protherics licensed CytoFab to AstraZeneca, who is responsible for the global development and commercialisation of the product. The agreement has a potential total deal value, excluding royalties, of approximately £195 million. Protherics received an initial payment of £16.3 million and a £7.5 million equity investment by AstraZeneca, and will receive additional payments worth up to £171 million payable upon the achievement of milestones.
Technology: Ovine polyclonal antibody fragment (Fab)
Mechanisms of action: Neutralises TNF-α, an inflammatory mediator strongly implicated in sepsis
Incidence: With a staggering 30% mortality rate, up to three million lives a year are threatened by sepsis worldwide
Potential market opportunity: Up to US$8 billion+ per annum worldwide in severe sepsis alone*
*Protherics estimates
For further information see the
CytoFab and
Sepsis fact sheets.