BioVersys and Shionogi Partner on Global NTM Drug Development Collaboration

Swiss biopharmaceutical company BioVersys AG has entered into a global research and exclusive license option agreement with Japanese pharmaceutical firm Shionogi & Co., Ltd. to co-develop new treatments for non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections based on BioVersys’ BV500 program.

The deal includes an upfront and near-term research payment totaling CHF 5 million to BioVersys. Upon selection of clinical candidates, Shionogi holds the option to license the assets, which could bring BioVersys up to CHF 479 million in regulatory and commercial milestone payments, plus tiered royalties on global sales.

The BV500 program is based on BioVersys’ proprietary Ansamycin Chemistry platform, designed to deliver orally bioavailable, broad-spectrum antibiotic candidates with potent activity against NTM pathogens. These include strains that are resistant to existing treatments, addressing a growing area of unmet medical need.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Shionogi, a global leader in infectious diseases,” said Dr. Marc Gitzinger, CEO and Co-founder of BioVersys. “This partnership enables us to accelerate BV500’s path to the clinic while reducing development risks and preserving financial focus.”

Shionogi’s Senior Vice President of R&D, Dr. John Keller, echoed the enthusiasm, saying, “This collaboration aligns with our mission to combat infectious diseases globally. We are fully committed to bringing our scientific and operational strengths to maximize the impact of the BV500 program.”

The joint teams from BioVersys’ research hubs in Lille, France and Basel, Switzerland, alongside Shionogi’s development experts, will work to advance lead compounds into clinical candidates and backups. Shionogi will have exclusive rights to further develop and commercialize selected molecules worldwide.

The BV500 program originated from SmartLab, a public-private partnership with the University of Lille, and has received ongoing support from the CF AMR Syndicate and the EU’s RespiriNTM program—highlighting the value of cross-sector collaboration in antibiotic innovation.

This announcement comes as BioVersys prepares to launch a Phase 3 trial for its most advanced candidate, BV100, later this year.