Strong Dedication to Life-Threatening Infectious Diseases
AiCuris is a pharmaceutical company focused exclusively on the discovery, research and development of novel antiviral and antibacterial agents for the treatment ofsevere and potentially life-threatening infectious diseases.
AiCuris was formed in March 2006 as a spin-off of the Anti-Infectives Unit of Bayer HealthCare, known for its long history of successful anti-infective drugs and blockbuster antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin and Moxifloxacin (Avelox®, Avalox®).
Bayer's portfolio of antiviral and antibacterial R&D programs, compounds and intellectual property as well as key experts in research and development form the substantial core around which AiCuris is built. Majority investors are Drs. Strüngmann as founders and previous owners of Hexal, while Bayer HealthCare holds a minority share.
AiCuris
possesses core expertise in pharmacology, microbiology, virology, pharmacokinetics,
medicinal chemistry and clinical development and is led by Prof. Dr.
Helga Rübsamen-Waigmann , former Head of the Anti-Infectives
research Unit
at Bayer HealthCare in the position of the CEO, and a proven
management team.
AiCuris relies on a team of scientists with profound experience in international drug development from their work for small and large pharmaceutical companies. Thus, AiCuris is well positioned not only to move the current portfolio of product candidates rapidly through clinical development onto approval but also to discover novel therapies for infectious diseases.
AiCuris has a distinct competitive advantage over other small pharmaceutical companies through its broad portfolio of compounds offering novel mechanisms of action which meet high medical need. Currently, three agents are investigated in
phase I and phase II clinical trials and three more candidate compounds are expected to enter clinical trials soon. Overall, 9 development compounds are actively investigated in the indications HCMV, HSV, HIV, hepatitis, and nosocomial bacterial infections. To preserve a sustainable antiviral and antibacterial development pipeline, the company is also actively working on several in-house research programs and opportunistically seeks to in-license drug candidates for selected indications.
The target market for AiCuris is large and growing with over €20 billion in worldwide sales in 2006. The main reason for this expansion of the market is the continuous rise in resistance to marketed antiviral and antibacterial agents, which is causing serious concern to healthcare providers and regulatory authorities worldwide. There is a growing need for anti-infective research to develop new drugs addressing the medical need for agents effective against multi-drug resistant viruses and bacteria.
The head office and laboratories of AiCuris are located at the Life Science Park in Wuppertal, Germany, where the company occupies 3,000 square meters of purpose built biology and pharmacokinetics facilities for the discovery and development of
novel anti-infective agents with a current staff of 40.
