A large pool of marketed drugs with substantial room for improvement creates a unique opportunity for LVT
Few New Chemical Entities that enter the market have entirely new molecular targets, and there are more and more ''me-too'' drugs on the market today. There is therefore a great opportunity for radical improvement by introducing safer, more efficacious and reliable models of existing drugs. Many successful drugs have been launched that are chemical modifications of existing drugs (e.g. Nexium versus Losec from AstraZeneca). Although the new drugs show small efficacy improvements, they often have better safety profile, with the result of fresh patent protection to the improved drug. Clavis Pharma has tested numerous chemical entities and have developed a pool of more than 150 LVT-improved compounds, many of which have the potential to both improve the original drugs efficacy and safety profile.
New Chemical Entities with strong patent protection
LVT derivatives constitute NCEs that can be protected themselves through strong composition of matter patents. This
is in contrast to traditional drug delivery systems or formulation techniques.
Reduced risk and cost
LVT derivatives of existing drugs will have a high probability of success as the safety and efficacy of the parent drug
have already been documented. The past experience of a certain drug can be used to optimise the preclinical and clinical studies
that need to be performed to get the new product to market. A drug development programme for an LVT product will be shorter
and less costly compared with drug with unproven new mechanisms of action, maximising the return of investment spent on bringing
the drug to the market.
New indications (disease areas) - Novel opportunities
By expanding the therapeutic window, compared to the original drug, LVT products have proven to be efficacious in a
number of new malignant cells, hereby giving the opportunity to market the drug for new indications or disease areas.
Life extension opportunities for existing drugs
As patent life approaches expiry pharmaceutical companies seek life extensions for their major products. LVT is the ideal
solution as it offers the opportunity of providing clinically meaningful improvements as well as strong independent patent
protection.