US drug company Merck has announced a $502 million acquisition of Viralytics, a virotherapy firm supported by HMRI and the University of Newcastle.

In what is now one of the biggest biotech sales in Australian history, Viralytics – a virotherapy firm co-founded by the University of Newcastle and lead researcher Associate Professor Darren Shafren – has been aquired for $502 milion by world-leading pharmaceutical company Merck.

On completion of the transaction, US-based Merck will gain full rights to Viralytics’ experimental immunotherapy compound Cavatak, a drug that uses the common cold virus to infect and kill cancer cells. Cavatak is currently being studied in multiple Phase I and Phase II clinical trials.

University of Newcastle Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Kevin Hall, said the historical buyout was indicative of the University’s formidable track record of turning world-class research into commercial opportunities.

“An achievement of this magnitude demonstrates that this is a region capable of developing a start-up business to a global scale. “

“This outstanding achievement by Associate Professor Schafren demonstrates not just excellence in research, but the sense of entrepreneurship and innovation that is part of the DNA of our institution,” said Professor Hall.

It culminates more than 20 years of development by Associate Professor Shafren, supported since inception by the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI). Newcastle Innovation, the University’s tech transfer arm, also facilitated Viralytics’ early growth.

Associate Professor Shafren said he looked forward to the opportunity to further advance vital biotechnology therapies.

“The basic premise of Cavatak is to cause cancer cells to rupture and die, while also stimulating a wider immune system response in the body,” he said. “Under this acquisition, Cavatak will be trialled with Merck’s immunotherapy drug Keytruda on melanoma, prostate, lung and bladder cancers and we’re eager to see those results.”

Dr Malcolm McColl, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for Viralytics, said the company was proud to have progressed Cavatak to this stage and believed that Merck was “best suited to advance the formula and fully realise its potential for the benefit of patients globally”.

In congratulating Viralytics, HMRI Director Professor Michael Nilsson said that transforming good ideas into commercial realities required vision, expertise, dedication and a fertile research environment.

“Game-changing advances like this emerge quite suddenly in the health sphere when you provide the right research foundations combined with the support of donors,” he said. “Our model of translational research aims to clear the way for innovative therapies like this to be developed efficiently and affordably.”

Professor Hall also commended Associate Professor Shafren for his role in fostering a sense of innovation among emerging reserachers.

“Through Associate Professor Shafren’s expert mentoring, his wider team of higher degree research students have also been exposed to this process, helping to impress invaluable commercial and entrepreneurial acumen upon the next generation of research leaders.”

The Greater Building Society (now Bank) supported the venture for 10 years, starting in 1999 with just $25,000 in seed-funding following the inaugural HMRI gala dinner. Bioscientific research continues to be performed at the University of Newcastle and HMRI Building.

BACKGROUND

Dr Darren Shafren is Associate Professor of Virology in the Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, based at the Hunter Medical Research Institute and leading a staff of 20 scientists and research personnel.

Initial studies of the Coxsackievirus A21 were aimed at curing the common cold. Associate Professor Shafren and his team subsequently discovered its effects on the immune system and saw the potential as an anti-cancer virotherapy. The University of Newcastle formed a start-up company called ViroTarg, while Viralytics was formed 12 years ago to facilitate commercialisation and capital-raising. The company is now publicly listed and financially independent of HMRI.