Monogram Biosciences has become the exclusive provider of HIV resistance and tropism-testing technology to support Avexa's drug discovery and development programs.
Avexa plans to use Monogram's assays across its virology portfolio including the Phase III evaluation of its lead compound, apricitabine (ATC), a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) drug.
Avexa will utilize Monogram's PhenoSense™ GT assay to select patients and optimize background therapy for trials involving approximately 2,000 patients and to monitor response to drug treatment during the studies.
ATC is a new nucleoside analog that is intended for use in patients who have developed viral resistance to existing drugs. Avexa also has HIV drugs in early development in the CCR5- and integrase- inhibitor classes.