Synergen Development Partners

Executive Summary

Two preclinical projects -- the FIBAC collagenase inhibitor and the HPSTI trypsin inhibitor -- are held up by "technical problems," Synergen said in a July 18 SEC filing pursuant to the company's repurchase of its R&D partnership. FIBAC, under study as a prevention of collagen decay associated with rheumatoid arthritis, corneal ulcers and solid tumor metastasis, lacks "a suitable method of delivering" the drug and "a GMP production process." HPSTI, under study as a treatment of acute pancreatitis, also lacks a suitable means of delivery and "there is concern as to whether HPSTI can reverse pancreatitis after onset of the disease," the company said. The company added that it "does not currently intend to develop" either product without a partner. The partnership's third compound, the SLPI elastase inhibitor, has moved into clinicals as a treatment for cystic fibrosis and genetic emphysema.