History

Lantibio, Inc., formerly known as MoliChem Medicines, Inc., began operations in 1997 when the Company obtained assignment and licensing agreements from Glaxo Wellcome and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a compound commonly referred to as “duramycin,” which was known then as “2622U90” and is now designated as “Moli1901,”  for the treatment of respiratory indications. For five years, the Company developed Moli1901 into Phase II clinical trials in the United States for the treatment of cystic fibrosis. Operations were funded initially through a federal grant and support from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as well as private financing from venture capitalists and other investors.

In April 2003, the Company re-focused its development efforts for Moli1901 on dry eye syndrome and changed its name to Lantibio, Inc. The Company conducted animal studies in rabbits and a preliminary human safety trial in Europe as a proof of concept for the dry eye indication and is currently conducting the development program in the United States under an IND.

Lantibio out-licensed development and commercialization of Moli901 for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in the European Union and Eastern Europe to AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals AGin Austria.

Currently, AOP is sponsoring a Phase II clinical trial in select centers in Austria, with immediate plans to initiate a follow-on multi-center trial across Europe.In August 2005, Lantibio entered into a development, manufacturing, and supply agreement withApotex Fermentation, Inc. (AFI) in Winnipeg, Mannitoba, Canada. 

The agreement with AFI provides access to the drug substance, method development, clinical batches, regulatory support, and supply of commercial batches at an advantageous overall cost. In December 2005, Lantibio obtained U.S. development and marketing rights for VISMED® through a licensing and supply manufacturing agreement withTRB Chemedica. VISMED® is marketed in  Europe under the CE mark as a lubricant eye drop.