Inhibrx signs $500 million option and license agreement with Celgene

Inhibrx has announced that it has signed an option and license agreement with Celgene for an Inhibrx antibody program. The target of the program was not disclosed. According to Inhibrx the deal is potentially worth more that $500 million in upfront, clinical and regulatory milestone payments. Inhibrx is also eligible to receive royalties on commercial sales.

Merck and AstraZeneca amend terms of joint-venture

It has been announced that Merck and AstraZeneca have amended the option agreement related to their partnership known as AstraZeneca LP. The updated agreement provides that AstraZeneca will not exercise its option to acquire Merck’s remaining interest in AZLP in 2012 and provides AstraZeneca a new option to acquire Merck’s partnership interest in June 2014. As a result of the amended agreement, Merck will continue to record supply sales and equity income from the partnership for the remainder of 2012 and 2013. In 2014, AstraZeneca now will have the option to purchase Merck’s remaining interest in AZLP for $327 million.

Simulations Plus signs oral cavity dosing model collaboration agreement

Simulations Plus a leading of simulation and modeling software for pharmaceutical discovery and development, has announced that it has signed a collaboration agreement with a large pharmaceutical company to extend and enhance its oral cavity dosing model within its GastroPlus simulation software program. Further details of the collaboration were not disclosed.

Compugen and Merck Serono Ventures form new biomarker joint venture

Compugen and Merck Serono Ventures have announced that they will form a new biomarker joint venture called Neviah Genomics Ltd. Neviah Genomics will operate out of the Merck Serono Israel Bioincubator. Merck Serono Ventures will provide the initial funding for Neviah Genomics. Compugen will provide predictive discovery technologies and receive an equity ownership in the new company and a right to royalties from potential future sales. Further financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

XTL Biopharmaceuticals acquires Kitov Pharmaceuticals for up to $48 million

XTL Biopharmaceuticals has announced today it will acquire Kitov Pharmaceuticals for up to $48 million in shares and cash milestone payments. Kitov Pharmaceuticals develops combination drug products, focusing on the treatment of hypertension and pain induced by osteoarthritis with its lead drug product, which is now ready to begin a Phase III clinical trial under an FDA Special Protocol Assessment.

Roche and Seaside Therapeutics enter into collaboration targeting fragile X syndrome and autism spectrum disorders

Roche and Seaside Therapeutics have announced that they have entered into a collaboration to develop treatments for fragile X syndrome and autism spectrum disorders. The alliance aims to speed up research and development in this field and lead a fundamental change in the treatment paradigm for FXS and ASD by developing therapeutics that target the molecular basis and, in turn, core symptoms of these neurodevelopmental disorders. Under the terms of the agreement, Seaside will license patents covering the use of mGluR5 antagonists for the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders exclusively to Roche. Roche will subsequently lead the development and commercialization of these compounds for the treatment of FXS and ASD. Its mGluR5 drug candidate RG7090, is currently enrolling patients in a Phase 2 clinical trial in FXS. Seaside will develop its GABA-B agonist program and retains exclusive rights to issued and pending patents covering the use of GABA-B agonists for the treatment of FXS and ASD. Seaside’s lead GABA-B candidate STX209 is currently enrolling patients in Phase 3 trials in FXS and recently completed enrollment in a Phase 2b trial in ASD. Roche may exercise options to commercialize STX209 upon completion of certain clinical development phases in FXS and ASD, but Seaside will continue to lead the clinical development of these programs. Additional terms of the transaction will not be disclosed.

Liquidia Technologies signs nanotechnology collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline

Liquidia Technologies has announced the signing of a collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline, which has acquired exclusive rights to research and develop vaccine and inhaled product candidates using Liquidia’s nanotechnology tools. Under the terms of the agreement, Liquidia will receive an upfront payment, comprised of cash and equity, research funding, and potential for additional licensing fees, development milestones, and royalties. According to Liquidia total payments under this collaboration could amount to several hundred million dollars.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Emory University announce clinical collaboration

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Emory University have announced the formation of a strategic partnership to conduct clinical trials involving Bristol-Myers Squibb’s investigational compounds. Terms of the collaboration were not disclosed.

AstraZeneca and Rigel Pharmaceuticals sign $100 million collaboration

AstraZeneca and Rigel Pharmaceuticals have announced an exclusive worldwide license agreement for the global development and commercialization of R256, Rigel’s inhaled JAK inhibitor shown to inhibit IL-13 and IL-4 signalling, which is being investigated as a treatment for moderate to severe chronic asthma. In preclinical research, R256 has been shown to reduce airway inflammation and improve lung function. AstraZeneca will be responsible for beginning first-in-human clinical studies for R256, and for designing and conducting the clinical development of the compound. AstraZeneca will have exclusive rights to commercialise R256 around the world. Under the terms of the agreement, Rigel will receive an upfront payment of $1 million with an additional $8.25 million in early milestone payments anticipated by the end of 2013. Together with other developmental, regulatory and launch milestone payments, the R256 collaboration could be worth up to $100 million. Upon marketing approval of R256, Rigel will be eligible to receive tiered royalty payments on product sales.

AC Immune signs SFR 400 million collaboration with Genentech

AC Immune has announced that it has entered into a second exclusive worldwide license agreement and research collaboration with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, for the research, development and commercialization of AC Immune’s anti-Tau antibodies for the potential treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, AC Immune will receive an undisclosed upfront payment and is eligible to receive research, development and commercialization milestone payments totaling more than SFR 400 million for Alzheimer’s disease and other indications. AC Immune is also eligible to receive royalties on net sales of products resulting from the collaboration. Under the collaboration AC Immune will work in partnership with Genentech to identify and formulate several pre-clinical candidates. Genentech will have global responsibility for pre-clinical and clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization of antibodies resulting from the collaboration.