Ligon Discovery has announced that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with Lycera Corporation to apply its Small Molecule Microarray screening technology to identify drug candidates for immune disorders. Ligon will apply its SMM technology to screen protein targets identified by Lycera as critical to the development of certain immune disorders. Financial terms were not disclosed.
February 10, 2010
Biovail collaborates with Alexza for AZ-004
Biovail has announced that it has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with Alexza Pharmaceuticals. Biovail has acquired the US and Canadian rights to commercialize AZ-004. AZ-004 is initially targeted for the rapid treatment of agitation in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In December 2009, Alexza submitted a New Drug Application to the FDA for AZ-004.
Biovail intends to deploy a sales force to commercialize AZ-004 in the U.S. Alexza will continue to manage the ongoing AZ-004 NDA review and approval process in connection with the initial indication, and has entered into a manufacturing and supply agreement to supply Biovail clinical and commercial product.
Under the terms of the agreement, Biovail has paid an upfront fee of $40 million, and could pay up to $90 million in potential milestones contingent on the successful approval of the first AZ-004 NDA, successful commercial manufacturing scale-up, and the successful completion of additional clinical trials, regulatory submission and approval of a supplemental NDA in the outpatient setting for patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Biovail will also make tiered, royalty payments of 10% to 25% on net commercial sales of Staccato loxapine. Alexza will supply AZ-004 to Biovail for commercialization, and will receive a per-unit transfer price, based upon annual product volume.
February 9, 2010
QIAGEN and Pfizer sign diagnostic kit partnership agreement
Pfizer and DxS, a wholly owned subsidiary of QIAGEN, have entered into an agreement to develop a companion diagnostic test kit for PF-04948568 (CDX-110), an immunotherapy vaccine in development by Pfizer for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.
February 9, 2010
CRT and AstraZeneca form alliance to create cancer metabolism drugs
Cancer Research UK’s commercialisation and development arm, Cancer Research Technology has announced it has teamed up with AstraZeneca in a multi-project alliance focused on creating a stream of new anti-cancer drugs. The three-year alliance will work on a portfolio of projects selected by CRT from Cancer Research UK’s portfolio of biological research in the field of cancer metabolism. AstraZeneca will take the most promising projects forward into pre-clinical and clinical drug development – through an innovative model for sharing the risks and potential rewards in creating new anti-cancer treatments. CRT will receive milestone payments and royalties on the projects that AstraZeneca take into clinical development.
February 9, 2010
Debiopharm signs licence agreement with Novartis for alisporivir
Debiopharm has announced an exclusive licence agreement with Novartis for the development, manufacture and commercialisation of Debio 025 (alisporivir), a selective cyclophilin inhibitor with a potent anti-hepatitis C virus effect. The product is currently in phase 2b clinical development for the treatment of hepatitis C. Debiopharm granted Novartis worldwide commercialisation rights to Debio 025 except for Japan. Under the terms of the agreement, Novartis will pay Debiopharm an upfront, development and sales milestones as well as royalties. This transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.
February 9, 2010
3SBio and Panacor Bioscience partner
3SBio, a China-based biotechnology company has announced a collaboration and license agreement with Panacor Bioscience to develop and commercialize Nephoxil for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in China. Under the terms of the agreement, Panacor Bioscience will grant 3SBio exclusive commercialization rights to Nephoxil in China. Panacor Bioscience will receive an upfront equity investment of $1 million and royalties on future product sales. 3SBio will be responsible for the cost of clinical development, registration, manufacturing and commercialization of Nephoxil in China. The agreement is subject to final approval by Taiwan’s regulatory authorities.
February 9, 2010
Shanghai ChemPartner gets best partner award from Roche
Shanghai ChemPartner, a contract research organization and a wholly owned subsidiary of ShangPharma, announced that it has received the 2009 Most Valuable Partner Award from Roche in the area of oncology and diabetes pharmacology research. More than 20 external partners were evaluated by Roche in this award competition of 2009.
February 9, 2010
Pfizer sees strong growth in China
The China Securities Journal is reporting that Pfizer sees strong growth in China driven by partnerships with universities, medical associations, government agencies and other pharmaceutical companies. Pfizer has partnered with Japan’s Takeda to help sell Takeda’s Actos diabetes drug in China.
February 9, 2010
KineMed broadens collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb
KineMed has announced a broadening of its collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company in the area of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. This agreement builds on the original collaboration between the two companies begun in June 2009. Details of the expanded agreement have not been supplied.
February 9, 2010
AnaptysBio and Merck announce antibody collaboration
AnaptysBio has announced a strategic collaboration with Merck, through an affiliate, to develop novel antibody therapeutics to a specified disease target. Under the terms of the agreement, AnaptysBio will be responsible for generating novel antibodies to a specified disease target using its proprietary somatic hypermutation technology platform. Merck will receive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize antibodies optimized by AnaptysBio. AnaptysBio has received an upfront sum and is eligible to receive milestone payments and royalties associated with the development and sale of any products derived from the collaboration.
