Coviracil license dispute
Executive Summary
Glaxo Wellcome grants full emtricitabine development rights to Triangle and Emory University under a legal dispute settlement, Triangle announced May 7. Discovered by Emory scientists, the antiviral nucleoside analogue for the treatment of HIV and hepatitis B was originally licensed to Burroughs-Wellcome. Most rights to Coviracil (formerly FTC) were returned to Emory when Glaxo acquired Burroughs-Wellcome, and were subsequently licensed to Triangle ("The Pink Sheet" April 27, 1998, p. 23). Emtricitabine is in the same class as Glaxo/BioChem's Epivir (lamivudine). The dispute settlement shifts Glaxo's remaining Coviracil property rights to Triangle, which is currently conducting Phase II/III trials in HIV and Phase I/II trials in HBV