Critical Outcome Technologies Inc. (COTI) (TSX Venture: COT) announced today the completion of synthesis for the first two novel HIV integrase inhibitors under co-development with a major pharmaceutical partner.

As previously announced, COTI entered into this partnership to advance its HIV-1 integrase inhibitor program.  Under this agreement, COTI retains all data and intellectual property ownership of the drug candidates including the results of the upcoming in vitro experiments to be conducted by the co-development partner.

The next step in the program is for the co-development partner to manage, conduct and fund the agreed upon in vitro experiments in their evaluation of the compounds.  Once these experiments have been completed and the results have been received by COTI, the co-development partner will have an exclusive time period to negotiate a licensing agreement with COTI for the compounds.

"I am pleased to announce this update in our HIV Integrase program," said Dr. Wayne Danter, President and CSO of COTI. "HIV/AIDS represents a major unmet medical need and the progress in our program for novel HIV integrase inhibitors brings COTI one step closer to assisting in the fight against this devastating disease." 

"We are delighted to move these compounds into the next stage of development with our co-development partner," said Michael Cloutier, CEO of COTI. "This is a strategic, cost effective initiative that allows us to rapidly advance our HIV-1 integrase inhibitor program."

For further information please visit www.criticaloutcome.com