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Biotech startup led by former Trimeris CEO expands deal with Roche

Dani Bolognesi

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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Drug giant Roche is expanding its commitment to Triangle life science startup b3 bio.

Roche is increasing its existing equity stake in the firm and also will provide development funds, b3 Chairman and Chief executive Officer Dani Bolognesi said Thursday.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Roche and Bolognesi have worked before. Bolognesi helped develop the HIV drug Fuzeon at Durham-based Trimeris. Roche is the production partner of the drug. Bolognesi is a former CEO of Trimeris.

Under the deal, Roche secured “certain rights” for development and commercialization of properties developed by b3 bio. The companies have worked together since July 2008.

B3bio is based at the Hamner Institutes in RTP.

“We are delighted to continue our existing relationship with Roche through this initiative,” Bolognesi said in a statement. “We believe we are ideally positioned to work with academia to identify promising emerging technologies with unique therapeutic potential and to move these forward in development in conjunction with Roche.”

Bolognesi launched b3 in March 2008 after leaving Trimeris. The startup’s focus is RNA therapeutics, and the company is using a technology platform licensed from Duke University and the University of Texas. Bolognesi taught at Duke, where his pioneering work in AIDS research led to the HIV drug Fuzeon.

In addition to his CEO role, Bolognesi served as Trimeris’ chief scientific officer. Bolognesi has been a pioneer in AIDS research.

Bolognesi helped launched Trimeris in 1993. Fuzeon received FDA approval in 2003.

Research done by Bolognesi and Dr. Tom Matthews, Trimeris' other co-founder, when they were at Duke led to Fuzeon, which was first called T-20. It is a new kind of drug, a fusion inhibitor. They determined that part of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, could be used to prevent viral reproduction through viral fusion.

In 2004, Bolognesi stepped aside as CEO, but he returned to the job in 2006 as Trimeris struggled toward profitability.
 

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