Biota Pharmaceuticals has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Anaconda Pharma, a privately-held biotechnology company based in Paris, France, for 3.5 million shares of Biota stock and $8.0 million in cash. The transaction also includes additional consideration of as much as $30 million based on clinical and regulatory milestones, plus a royalty. The transaction, subject to customary conditions, is expected to close April 2015.
 
Biota gains its lead candidate is AP611074, a direct-acting antiviral in development for the treatment of condyloma, or anogenital warts, as well as the orphan disease recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), both of which are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11. Anaconda has successfully completed a Phase IIa trial of AP611074 5% gel demonstrating biological activity with a significant reduction in the surface area of condyloma with favorable local skin tolerability.
 
“We’re very enthusiastic about the global market opportunity for AP611074, and believe it is uniquely positioned to significantly improve the treatment paradigm for anogenital warts, the most frequent viral sexually transmitted disease worldwide, and RRP, a condition in which tumors grow in the respiratory tract,” said Dr. Joseph Patti, president and chief executive officer of Biota. “We are encouraged by both the positive efficacy data as well as the favorable local skin tolerability profile. We are looking forward to the initiation of a Phase 2b trial in patients with anogenital warts in the second half of 2015.”
 
“We believe that Biota’s antiviral clinical development capabilities and experience, along with its financial resources, will enhance and accelerate the development of AP611074,” said Dr. Marta Blumenfeld, chief executive officer of Anaconda Pharma. “We are delighted to unite forces with Biota as AP611074 advances into a robust Phase 2b clinical trial later this year.”