Our Business
Biota is a leading clinical-stage, anti-infective drug development company with corporate offices in Atlanta, Georgia and research and development facilities in Melbourne, Australia, and Oxford, United Kingdom.
The Company has developed first and second generation neuraminidase inhibitors for the treatment of influenza A and B infections, the first of which is zanamivir, which is marketed as Relenza® by GlaxoSmithKline. The Company's second generation neuraminidase inhibitors are referred to as long-acting neuraminidase inhibitors (LANIs) and are being evaluated as a once-weekly or once-only inhaled dose as compared to five day, twice-daily dosing needed with first generation LANI's. The Company and Daiichi Sankyo have cross-licensed intellectual property related the development and commercialization of the LANI's. The lead LANI, known as laninamivir octanoate, has completed clinical development in Japan and is marketed by Daiichi Sankyo as Inavir®.
In 2011, the Company was awarded a contract from the U.S. Office of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ("BARDA"), for up to $231 million designed to support the clinical development and U.S. based manufacturing for laninamivir octanoate for the treatment of influenza A and B infections. The Company anticipates initiating a 636-patient, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial of laninamivir octanoate in mid-2013.
Relenza™ is a registered trademark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.
Inavir® is registered to Daiichi Sankyo.
Recent achievements:
- Inavir® (laninamivir) is approved for sale in Japan and is marketed by Daiichi Sankyo.
- Biota expanded its antibacterial interests following the asset acquisitions of Prolysis Limited.
- Biota awarded a contract up to US$231 million by the US Office of Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority (BARDA) for the advanced development of laninamivir in the USA.
- HRV Phase IIb study achieves primary endpoint - Oral treatment for Human Rhinovirus Infection results in statistically significant reduction of symptoms in asthmatics. The drug is aimed at prevention and treatment of one of the major causes of the common cold which is also thought to be a major cause of exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
- Inavir® Phase III Japanese prevention study achieved its Primary Endpoint.
- Biota Pharmaceuticals created through merger with Nabi Biopharmaceuticals.
The Company's research pipeline also extends beyond respiratory diseases, including early stage research targeting the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and respiratory synctial virus (RSV).
Biota is listed on Nasdaq under the code 'BOTA'.