Virpax has announced an expansion of its license agreement with Nanomerics to add worldwide rights to AnQlar nasal spray, an antiviral mucoadhesive polymer derived from chitosan. The original license agreement, which was announced in August 2020, included North American rights only. According to Nanomerics, the additional funds paid by Virpax for the expanded license “will allow Nanomerics to continue to expand its headcount and aggressively pursue its clinical programs.”
Virpax said that it plans to develop AnQlar as a nonprescription drug. Preclinical tests of AnQlar have shown that treatment with the nasal spray inhibits replication of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 and reduces virus levels in brain tissue in animal studies with no adverse effects observed.
Nanomerics CEO Andreas Schätzlein commented, “I am really pleased that we were able to agree on the terms for the expansion of our commercial agreement with Virpax Pharmaceuticals and we look forward to further development of AnQlar by our partner.”
Virpax Chief Financial Officer and Secretary Christopher M. Chipman said, “We would like to extend our appreciation to our partner, Nanomerics, in collaborating with the company to restructure our original agreement, exchanging North American rights with an agreement that awards us global rights and replacing all commercial milestones and royalties with a profit-sharing arrangement. This assists us with the transition of AnQlar to a potential over-the-counter designation by the FDA.”
Virpax Chairman and CEO Anthony P. Mack added, “Obtaining the worldwide rights to AnQlar is consistent with our global business model and puts the company in a stronger position to pursue strategic alliances or enterprise opportunities for this product candidate.”
Read the Virpax press release.
Read the Nanomerics press release.
