Medivir enters dengue virus R&D collaboration with Johnson & Johnson unit

Swedish infectious disease drug developer Medivir AB (OMX: MVIR) has signed a collaboration agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, a unit of US health care giant Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), for the discovery and development of drugs for the prophylaxis and treatment of dengue virus infection.

Utilizing both companies' core competences in the discovery and development of protease inhibitors, Medivir and Janssen will initiate an R&D program to co-develop drugs based on the inhibition of the dengue NS3 protease activity. Both parties will contribute equal resources to the research program and Medivir has an option to continue to contribute equal funding for the non-clinical and clinical development stages.

Terms include sales royalties for Medivir