Hyderabad, Dec 7: Bharat Biotech International Ltd., a Hyderabad-based biopharmaceuticals firm, has signed a licence agreement with ThromboGenics NV of Belgium for the manufacture, clinical development and commercialisation of THR-100, a novel variant of Recombinant Staphylokinase. The deal is for developing countries and certain industralised countries, BBIL president V. Krishna Mohan said on Thursday.

THR-100 is a thrombolytic agent developed for treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI or heart attack) and other vascular diseases based on its ability to dissolve blood clots. In return for granting this licence, ThromboGenics will earn royalties on net sales. Bharat Biotech will assume responsibility for all future costs. Dr. Mohan said in a statement.

"THR-100 has completed Phase II clinical trials in Europe for treatment of AMI in over 140 patients. In the clinic, THR-100 has demonstrated efficacy equivalent to tPA, or tissue plasminogen activator (considered the "gold standard" for thrombolytic therapy), but at significantly lower patient cost than tPA. THR-100 has also shown superior efficacy to both streptokinase and urokinase, the most commonly used thrombolytic agents in the developing world for the treatment of AMI and other thrombotic conditions," he said. The objective of the agreement between ThromboGenics and Bharat Biotech is to develop and commercialise THR-100 as a replacement for established thrombolytics, such as streptokinase in developing markets.