Brighton, United Kingdom – 22 December 2022 – Destiny Pharma plc (AIM: DEST), a clinical stage innovative biotechnology company focused on the development of novel medicines that can prevent life-threatening infections, is pleased to announce an update on the progress made in 2022 against its key objectives, including working to finalise a partnering agreement for NTCD-M3, its most advanced clinical programme targeted at infection prevention.
Highlights of 2022
- NTCD-M3 partnering negotiations nearing finalisation – expected to complete in early 2023.
- XF-73 Nasal Phase 3 clinical plans clarified. Active partnering programme already underway.
- Earlier programmes targeting dermal infections and COVID-19 all continued to make good progress in 2022.
NTCD-M3
In line with its strategy, during 2022 the Company has focused on securing a commercialisation partner for NTCD-M3, its lead asset for the prevention of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) recurrence. That process has resulted in Destiny Pharma entering exclusive negotiations with one US pharmaceutical company following agreement of heads of terms. The parties are working constructively to close the transaction and announce a collaboration in early 2023.
Whilst there can be no guarantee that these partnering negotiations will complete, nor as to the final terms of a partnering agreement, the headline terms as currently agreed state that all future clinical development and commercialisation of NTCD-M3 in the US will be funded by the partner. The Board believes these proposed terms, providing for security of final clinical development funding, mean that Destiny’s investment in NTCD-M3 will be significantly more valuable without the requirement to contribute towards the funding of the final clinical programme.
XF-73
During 2022, Destiny Pharma has also defined the US and EU Phase 3 clinical development plan for XF-73 Nasal, a novel nasal gel for the prevention of post-surgical infections. Destiny Pharma is now running an active partnering campaign with some early discussions already underway. The target is to secure a commercialisation partner for the XF-73 Nasal programme in 2023.
For both lead clinical programmes, the Company is seeking to close partnerships with pharmaceutical companies that can lead the commercialisation of NTCD-M3 and XF-73 Nasal in key markets, as well as contribute to the funding and design of the required Phase 3 clinical trials.
Good progress has also been made on the Company’s earlier pre-clinical pipeline programmes and 2022 ends with two active dermal infection projects running in the US and China, and with the completion of the SporCov COVID-19 grant-funded collaboration. Further updates on these projects will be announced in H1 2023.
Neil Clark, Chief Executive Officer of Destiny Pharma, noted: “The Board remains fully focused on delivering a comprehensive partnering deal for NTCD-M3, our lead asset, early in 2023 and we are working with the counterparty to achieve this. We are also very excited to finalise our Phase 3 plans for XF-73 Nasal and intensify partnering discussions now that we have detailed regulatory feedback. Our aim is to end 2023 having secured partners for both of our lead assets to complete their final Phase 3 clinical studies, registration and approval in key markets – especially the United States.”
Full Press Release available here.