Anacor is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel small molecule therapeutics derived from its novel boron chemistry platform. We have discovered six product candidates currently in development. Our lead product candidates include three topically administered dermatologic compounds—tavaborole (formerly AN2690), an antifungal for the treatment of onychomycosis, and AN2728 and AN2898, topical anti-inflammatories for the treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. In addition, we are developing AN2718 as a second topical antifungal product candidate for the treatment of onychomycosis and skin fungal infections. We have also discovered two compounds that are in development with our partners: GSK2251052, or GSK '052 (formerly referred to as AN3365), a systemic antibiotic for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, is being developed by GlaxoSmithKline, and AN8194 an animal health product candidate is being developed by Eli Lilly and Company. We have entered into and are seeking partnerships to expand the therapeutic application and commercial value of our boron chemistry platform.
History
2002
Anacor founded based on technology created by board members and scientific advisory board co-chairs, Dr. Lucy Shapiro at Stanford University and Dr. Stephen Benkovic at Pennsylvania State University
Members of the founding management team include current employees, David Perry (CEO), Kirk Maples (SVP Program Management) and Lucy Day (VP Finance). Current employees Steve Baker (program management, formerly in medicinal chemistry) and Dickon Alley (molecular biology) worked in Steve's and Lucy's labs during development of the technology
Entered into a $21.6 million contract with the Department of Defense to explore the use of boron chemistry in biodefense
2003-2004
Explored potential uses of boron in drug development and generated data showing that boron platform had potential applications in a variety of diseases including bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections as well as inflammatory diseases
2005
First compound entered clinical trials
2006
Initiated Phase 2 trial of AN2690 for onychomycosis
2007
Signed collaboration agreements with Schering (now Merck) and GlaxoSmithKline bringing in over $57 million in cash
2008
Fifth compound entered clinical trials
2009
GSK '052
Initiated Phase 1 clinical development for GSK 2251052, or GSK '052 (formerly referred to as AN3365), the first compound to enter the clinic under the company's systemic antibacterial agreement with GSK
Neglected Diseases
Entered into agreements with the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) and Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) to apply our boron chemistry platform in the area of neglected diseases
2010
AN2690
Initiated Phase 3 trial for onychomycosis
GSK '052
Reported Phase 1 results showing that GSK '052 appeared to be safe and well-tolerated, after which GSK exercised its option to obtain an exclusive license to develop and commercialize GSK '052. Upon exercise of the option, Anacor received a fee of $15.0 million
Entered into a research agreement with Eli Lilly and Company, or Lilly, to discover products for a variety of animal health applications
Neglected Diseases
Entered into a research agreement with not-for-profit Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) develop new therapeutics for the treatment of malaria
Entered research and development collaboration agreement with UCSF's Sandler Center to discover new drug therapies to treat River Blindness
Completed Initial Public Offering
2011
Entered into R&D agreement with Medicis for the treatment of Acne
Tavaborole (formerly AN2690)
Completed enrollment in 2 Phase 3 trials for onychomycosis
AN2728
Initiated and completed final Phase 2b trial for the treatment of psoriasis
AN2728 and AN2898
Successfully completed Phase 2a trial in atopic dermatitis
GSK '052
GSK initiated 2 Phase 2 trials in complicated urinary tract infections and complicated intra-abdominal infections
Animal Health
Achieved the first development candidate in animal health (AN8914) under our collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company
Neglected Diseases
Entered R&D Collaboration with the Institute of OneWorld Health to develop new treatments for diarrheal disease
Entered development agreement with Medicines for Malaria Venture for the treatment of malaria
Partner, DNDi announced successful pre-clinical results for AN5568, the first new oral drug candidate discovered specifically to combat human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) and plans to enter clinical trials
Strategy
Our objective is to discover, develop and commercialize proprietary boron-based drug compounds with superior efficacy, safety and convenience for the treatment of a variety of diseases. The key elements of our strategy to achieve this objective are to:
Drive rapid, efficient discovery of novel boron-based compounds. We believe the unique characteristics of boron and the expertise we have developed allow us to design novel product candidates that target a broad range of diseases and drive a rapid and efficient drug development process. We have discovered and advanced seven compounds into development in ten years and, in addition, have other active research and development programs ongoing.
Focus development activities in our core therapeutic areas. We intend to focus our development activities in our core therapeutic areas of fungal, inflammatory and bacterial diseases. To fully leverage our boron chemistry platform, we have established and will continue to pursue development partnerships in these therapeutic areas.
Commercialize our products ourselves in specialty markets in the United States. We intend to build a sales force to focus on domestic specialty markets, such as dermatology. We have entered into and will continue to seek commercialization partners for products in non-specialty and international markets.
Leverage partnerships for non-core therapeutic areas. We believe boron chemistry has utility in a broad range of diseases outside of our core therapeutic areas. To maximize the value of our boron chemistry platform and to provide non-dilutive capital to support development in our core therapeutic areas, we have entered into and will continue to seek partnerships early in development for compounds in non-core areas, such as parasitic, cancer and ophthalmic indications and for applications in animal health.
Expand and protect our intellectual property. We intend to expand and aggressively prosecute our intellectual property in the area of boron chemistry and boron-based compounds. Since a relatively limited amount of research has been done in the area of boron-based drug development, we believe that we can establish a defensible and valuable intellectual property portfolio.
