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FDA halts clinical trials on HIV drug candidate of GlaxoSmithKline

An HIV drug candidate licensed by GlaxoSmithKline has received a clinical hold, stopping further clinical trials on the compound. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s action could jeopardize $390 million in milestone payments to GSK partner Idenix Pharmaceuticals

Prospects for an HIV drug candidate licensed by GlaxoSmithKline are now clouded after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration halted further clinical trial work on the compound.

Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Idenix Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:IDIX) gave no details on what prompted the FDA’s action, but typically such clinical holds are made when information about the toxicity of a compound comes to light. Idenix only said that it was informed by GSK (NYSE:GSK) affiliate ViiV Healthcare that the compound now called GSK2238761 has been placed on clinical hold.

ViiV is a company formed in 2009 by GSK and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) specializing in AIDS and HIV drugs.  Under the 2009 licensing agreement, ViiV has full responsibility for  development of the ‘761 compound. Including ‘761, ViiV has seven compounds in development; five of them in mid- to late-stage clinical trials. England-based ViiV has its U.S. headquarters on GlaxoSmithKline’s campus in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park.

The clinical hold on ‘761 could jeopardize up to $390 million in additional milestone payments to Idenix tied to further development of the HIV compound. Idenix has already received $60.5 million in milestones. The most recent payment was for a $20 million milestone reached in November when the compound entered phase II b clinical trials.