Karo Bio buys rights to Pfizer thyroid hormone receptor platform

Swedish biotechnology company Karo Bio has expanded and further strengthened the intellectual property portfolio for its thyroid hormone receptor (TR) platform by entering into an agreement that provides Karo Bio with an exclusive license to a US patent from global drugs giant Pfizer. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The accord strengthens Karo Bio's intellectual property rights around its library of proprietary compounds targeting the thyroid hormone receptor, including eprotirome for the treatment of dyslipidemia, currently in clinical Phase II development. The company is currently conducting two supportive human pharmacological studies on this compound to complement the documentation needed for start of Phase III. The second clinical study intends to document the pharmaceutical formulation to be used through the phase III studies. Karo Bio's intellectual property estate in the TR area currently includes 63 issued patents and 183 pending patent applications.

'This licensing deal confirms our commitment to this exciting area and adds even broader protection of our TR platform,' commented Per Olof Wallstrom, chief executive of Karo Bio.