Company* |
Company* |
Type/ |
Terms/Details (Date) |
| | |||
Accelrys Inc. |
Digital Gene |
Agreement in which Digital Gene purchased Accelrys' DS SeqStore for its bioinformatics infrastructure |
It will allow Digital Gene to deploy data and information more effectively to pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms (10/22) |
Aclara |
Third Wave Technologies |
License and supply agreement that gives Aclara rights to incorporate Third Wave's Invader technology and Cleavase enzyme with Aclara's eTag technology |
It will be used to offer the eTag Assay System for multiplexed gene expression applications for the research market (10/16) |
ActivBiotics |
DepoMed Inc. |
Memorandum of understanding under which DepoMed will develop a controlled-release oral tablet that delivers ActivBiotics' lead compound, rifalazil, to the gastrointestinal tract |
ActivBiotics will fund DepoMed's research and development expenses while a definitive agreement is being negotiated (10/15) |
Affymetrix Inc. |
Ardais Corp.* |
Joint research agreement to combine Affymetrix's GeneChip technology with Ardais' BIGR (Biomaterials and Information for Genomic Research) library of human tissue samples and accom- panying clinical information |
Ardais will supply Affymetrix access to its BIGR library in an unnamed cancer to generate gene expression profiles for clinical genomics applications (9/30) |
Agilent |
Large Scale |
Worldwide licensing agreement that allows Agilent to exclusively develop technologies for the separation of low-abundance proteins from serum samples, such as blood |
Financial terms were not disclosed (10/10) |
Agilent |
Millennium Pharmaceuticals |
Licensing agreement that allows Agilent to exclusively develop and sell software based on Millennium's SpectrumMill software, which is used for protein research in disease and drug discovery |
Agreement also provides Millennium with early access to Agilent products and chemistries for proteomics research; financial terms were not disclosed (10/10) |
Albany Molecular Research Inc. |
Seattle Genetics |
Agreement for the development and manufacture of SGI's drug-linker systems |
Albany Molecular will perform process development, scale-up and GLP and cGMP manufacturing of certain drug-linker systems (10/7) |
Amarin |
CellGate Inc.* |
Research collaboration to assess the feasibility of improving Amarin's targeted and controlled delivery of oral pharmaceutical products by combining Amarin's drug delivery technology with CellGate's molecular transporter technology |
CellGate's technology will be used to develop drug transporter conjugates of two undisclosed drug substances (9/30) |
Ambion Inc.* |
Caliper |
Collaboration to develop an RNA amplification system |
Funds will come from a $1.6M Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (10/28) |
Anadys |
Sequoia |
Agreement in which Sequoia will be providing compounds isolated from plants for screening by Anadys |
The aim is to identify new anti-infectives based on the compounds; Anadys will use its ultra-high-throughput Atlas and Scan technologies, and will be responsible for lead optimization, development and commercialization (10/14) |
Aradigm Corp. |
GeneRx+ Inc.* |
Collaboration to study the feasibility of pulmonary delivery of two lead candi- dates from GeneRx+ via the AERx technology platform |
The collaboration focuses on Alphagen and Coxagen for hereditary emphysema and pulmonary hypertension, respectively (9/26) |
Arius Research |
Protein Design |
Research agreement to evaluate two anticancer antibodies developed by Arius |
Arius will receive funding; if PDL exercises its option to license the antibodies, Arius would receive licensing fees and milestone payments, as well as potential royalties (10/8) |
Arius Research |
Xerion |
Agreement to combine research and discovery skills to develop colon cancer drugs |
The companies will share revenues from out-licensed targets, co-develop the tar- gets or pay the other party for an exclusive license to the targets; they will use four antibodies from the Arius functional antibody library, and Xerion will be responsible for validating therapeutic potential and identifying targets (10/15) |
Arpida Ltd.* |
Combio A/S* |
Research collaboration to develop antibiotics |
Arpida will contribute broad-spectrum antibacterial targets, assay technologies and lead compounds; compounds will be jointly developed (10/10) |
Array BioPharma |
InterMune Inc. |
Collaboration to create small-molecule therapeutics targeting hepatitis |
InterMune will fund drug discovery re- search conducted by Array and will be responsible for development and commercialization; Array also will receive potential milestones and royalties (9/30) |
Asterand Inc.* |
Onyvax Ltd.* |
Agreement to combine resources to make prostate cancer cell lines available to commercial and academic researchers |
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed (10/9) |
Avigen Inc. |
Sangamo |
Agreement to evaluate potential therapies for chronic pain based on Sangamo's zinc finger, DNA-binding protein transcription factors and Avigen's adeno-associated virus gene delivery system |
The companies will investigate therapies for neuropathic pain based on the combined technologies; each will be responsible for its own expenses, but they will share any intellectual property developed (10/2) |
Azign Bioscience |
BioDiscovery |
Collaboration to develop targeted in silico models for the in vivo prediction of the therapeutic and toxicological effects of new chemical entities |
BioDiscovery will use its computational data analysis technologies to integrate Azign's drug-profiling techniques to develop in silico models (10/28) |
BD Biosciences |
Evotec OAI AG |
Licensing agreement for BD Biosciences' reef coral fluorescent proteins as fluorescent markers to improve cell-based screening technologies in drug discovery |
Evotec will integrate BD Biosciences' proteins into its miniaturized high-throughput screening platform, EVOscreen technology (9/25) |
BioFocus plc |
Xention |
Two-year ion channel discovery program |
The companies aim to develop enhanced drug candidates that selectively interact with an ion channel target to treat atrial fibrillation; Xention gains rights to a range of compounds and will use its AutoPatch technology for further compound screening; BioFocus will provide ongoing medicinal and computational chemistry expertise for hit-to-lead optimization (10/7) |
Bionomics Ltd. |
Nanogen Inc. |
Development and license agreement to develop a new-generation diagnostic product for epilepsy |
The development program will use Nanogen's NanoChip molecular biology workstation and Bionomics' epilepsy gene discoveries (10/1) |
BioStratum |
Genzyme |
Agreement granting Genzyme an option to obtain a world- wide license under Bio- Stratum's patent rights pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of Alport syndrome |
Terms of the option agreement were not disclosed (9/25) |
Callida |
SurroMed |
Collaboration to develop a high-throughput, universal genotyping system, com- bining SurroMed's Nanobar codes particles technology with Callida's universal probes technology |
The collaboration is funded in part by a National Institute of Standards and Technology Advanced Technology Program grant (10/1) |
CareX SA* |
Chemical |
Research collaboration to apply methods of rational drug design to library screening of bioactive substances |
Chemical Diversity Labs will provide libraries for CareX's drug discovery targets in the field of metabolic diseases (10/18) |
Celera |
Quest Diagnostics |
Agreement to develop lab tests |
Celera will collaborate with Quest to establish tests based on diagnostic markers for cardiovascular disease and diabetes; Celera and LabCorp will establish tests based on diagnostic markers for Alzheimer's disease, breast cancer and prostate cancer (10/2) |
Celltech Group |
Inhale |
Licensing, manufacturing and supply agreement whereby Celltech will use Inhale's PEG technology and services for CDP860 and CDP791 for cancer, and CDP484 for rheumatoid arthritis |
Inhale will supply exclusive development and manufacturing for each PEG product, as well as potential milestone and royalty payments (10/18) |
Charles River |
Proteome |
Agreement to establish a joint venture that will provide proteomics testing and analysis services on a fee-for-service, contract basis |
Charles River Proteomics will be 80% owned by Charles River and 20% owned by Proteome Systems; it will be capitalized with $6M (10/2) |
CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals |
Discovery Laboratories |
Research collaboration to evaluate the combination of their platform technologies for the development of respiratory disease therapeutics |
Companies will collaborate on the pre- clinical evaluation of an aerosolized formulation of Discovery's humanized lung surfactants combined with CollaGenex's Impacs compounds; companies will seek therapeutics for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, chronic interstitial lung disease and acute lung injury (10/17) |
Crucell NV |
Applied |
Nonexclusive, worldwide research license agreement allowing AME to evaluate the production of mono- clonal antibodies on the PER.C6 human cell line |
AME also has an option for a nonexclusive, worldwide research license agreement to manufacture one or more specified monoclonal antibody products on the PER.C6 cell line (10/1) |
DNAPrint |
Nanogen Inc. |
Agreement to develop DNA chip-based tests |
DNAPrint will develop NanoChip versions of its genomics tests; both companies will co-market the tests for clinical and field application; Nanogen will receive a royalty on NanoChip-based tests sold; DNAPrint gets a nonexclusive license to perform certain pharmacogenomics, recreational and forensics genomics testing services on the NanoChip platform (10/29) |
DNA Sciences |
Prometheus Laboratories |
Co-exclusive sublicense agreement for a patent, allowing the identification of two gene forms that are important to the production of the human enzyme, thiopurine S-methyltransferase, and to related diagnostic uses |
The companies also may collaborate in the discovery and development of diagnostic products using DNA Sciences' pharmacogenetics expertise (10/15) |
D-Pharm Ltd.* |
Thuris Corp.* |
Joint feasibility project to evaluate the therapeutic activity of D-Pharm's compounds with Thuris' RapidAging animal models |
Thuris will test selected anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective compounds for D-Pharm, and assess their effects against certain brain pathologies (10/14) |
Dyax Corp. |
Thios Pharma- |
Collaboration and licensing agreement for the development of therapeutic antibodies against Thios' sulfated glycoprotein target |
Dyax will use its antibody phage-display technology to identify and characterize antibodies that bind specifically to the Thios target, with the goal of blocking the sulfated target and inhibiting inflammation in vitro and in vivo (10/29) |
Dyax Corp. |
XOMA Ltd. |
Licensing agreement that gives XOMA rights to Dyax's antibody library and to its Ladner phage display patents |
Dyax also gets a license to use XOMA's antibody expression technology to develop products and to produce antibodies under XOMA patents; the deal includes a license fee and potential royalties for XOMA (10/16) |
Elite Pharma- |
Ethypharm |
Agreement to develop a new prescription drug product |
Elite will receive a one-time development fee for the first phase of a feasibility study; the parties then could enter a further development program (10/11) |
Endovasc Ltd. |
XM International d/b/a Basic Research Inc. (subsidiary of Royal Numico NV; the Netherlands) |
Agreement to start a stem cell recruitment study using Angiogenix for accelerating muscle tissue rebuilding after long-term disability |
Further details were not disclosed (10/30) |
Epicyte Pharmaceutical |
AAI |
Agreement to develop the industry's first topical formulation of a monoclonal antibody |
The program is expected to lead to a topical gel formulation of Epicyte's lead anti- body compound, HX8, for herpes simplex virus (9/16) |
Epimmune Inc. |
Immuno- |
Evaluation and license option agreement for certain cancer antigens for use in IDM's ex vivo cancer therapy program |
IDM will have 120 days to evaluate the epitopes and exercise its option to license certain patented and nonpatented rights to Epimmune's universal cancer epitope packages; Epimmune received an evaluation license fee and also is entitled to receive milestone and royalty payments (10/14) |
Evogene Ltd. |
Metabogal |
Agreement to jointly develop a platform for genetic engineering and remodeling of plant cells for the improved production of therapeutic recombinant proteins |
Evogene will develop and license specific products and knowledge related to its EvoMoters promoters library to Metabogal; the companies also will collaborate to develop and introduce DNA regulatory elements (10/9) |
Evotec OAI AG |
MediGene AG |
Agreement to launch a new company called Genovation out of MediGene's recently spun off cardiological drug discovery program |
Evotec will hold up to 15% of Genovation; Evotec will contribute expertise in drug discovery and will conclude an exclusive service agreement to carry out chemical screening and substance optimization procedures (10/16**) |
Genetic Technologies |
Myriad Genetics |
Alliance to cross-license certain technologies related to the noncoding of DNA alterations and the assessment of inherited human diseases |
Myriad will receive a nonexclusive license to Genetic Technologies' noncoding DNA analysis and mapping patents for all applications in human therapeutics and diagnostics; Genetic Technologies will become Myriad's exclusive marketing agent in Australia and New Zealand for its predictive medicine products; Myriad will pay Genetic Technologies an up-front licensing fee of $1M plus annual license fees; Genetic Technologies will pay Myriad various option fees and annual product royalties (10/28) |
Immuno- |
Nemod Immunotherapies |
Joint research project to develop immunotherapy products in cancer treatment |
The project aims to evaluate a potential synergy between Nemod's antibodies and IDM's MAK cells to target and destroy tumor cells; if successful, IDM would gain an exclusive license in the field of ex vivo therapy (10/24) |
Immunomedics |
OY Medix |
Nonexclusive license agreement for Immunomedics' portfolio of carcinoembryonic antigen patents |
The patents cover antibodies that specific- ally recognize CEA; Medix agreed to an up-front payment and royalties, as well as back royalties and interest to Immunomedics for prior use of the patented technologies (10/16) |
Incara Cell Technologies |
Vesta |
Agreement in which Incara sold all of the assets and certain related liabilities of its liver cell and liver stem cell program to Vesta |
Incara maintains an ongoing financial interest in the program without having to fund clinical trials (10/22) |
InforMax Inc. |
SciTegic Inc.* |
Alliance to develop data pipelining and automation products for the bioinformatics market |
The products would combine SciTegic's Pipeline Pilot technologies with components from InforMax's Vector family of products (10/3) |
Inhale |
InterMune |
Agreement to develop a PEGylated version of Inter- Mune's chronic hepatitis C drug, Infergen |
Inhale will provide expertise and exclusive manufacturing for the reagent used in the PEGylation of Infergen, while InterMune will be responsible for development, as well as commercialization in North America; Inhale would receive milestones and royalties (10/8) |
In Vitro |
NeuralStem |
Agreement for human neural stem cell-derived neurons |
Neuralstem will be responsible for producing, characterizing and shipping the neurons, while IVT will be responsible for marketing, advertising, sales and technical support of the products (10/28) |
KS Biomedix |
Nycomed |
Licensing agreement for TransMID 107 brain cancer treatment |
The deal is worth up to US$60M and includes right to the initial indication in recurrent glioma, plus newly diagnosed and metastatic breast cancer (9/25**) |
Lexicon Genetics |
Biogen Inc. |
Nonexclusive licensing agreement to use Lexicon's gene-targeting technologies for internal research programs |
Biogen renewed its license to use Lexicon's positive-negative selection technology and received nonexclusive rights under the patent covering Lexicon's isogenic DNA gene-targeting technology (10/24) |
Micromet AG* |
Novuspharma |
Alliance to co-develop Micromet's drug candidate, MT201 |
The companies will share future costs and revenue streams, and Micromet will receive €4M (US$3.92M) up front and, potentially, milestone and royalty payments (9/2) |
Millennium Pharmaceuticals |
Xenogen |
Agreement under which Millennium will obtain access to Xenogen's real-time in vivo imaging technology platform for its oncology program |
Millennium also will purchase Xenogen's IVIS Imaging System and Living Image software package (10/17) |
NeoTherapeutics |
GPC Biotech |
Licensing agreement giving GPC worldwide rights to satraplatin for hormone-resistant prostate cancer |
NeoTherapeutics could earn more than $22M through the deal, with $2M up front (10/1) |
Ortec |
Hapto Biotech |
Research collaboration focusing on developing new wound-healing and tissue- regeneration products from the combination of Ortec's bilayered cellular matrix technology, OrCel, and Hapto Biotech's Haptide technology |
The collaboration will aim to develop proof of concept of new non-cellular and cellular advanced wound-healing products built on OrTec's patented OrCell and collagen sponge technologies (9/30) |
Phase 2 |
Biosite Inc. |
Multiyear collaboration to license Phase 2's biomarker, c-tau, to Biosite |
Biosite will evaluate it for use in diagnostic tests for stroke and brain injury (10/2) |
ProQuest Pharmaceuticals |
Ricerca |
Collaboration to create new drug products by combining ProQuest's prodrug technologies with Ricerca's drug development expertise |
The collaboration is based on sharing of resources, know-how and intellectual property, and initially will focus on developing new prodrug-based anti-infective products; the companies will share in product royalties and revenues derived from the resulting collaborative products (10/29) |
SciTegic Inc.* |
Millennium Pharmaceuticals |
Agreement in which Millennium is a customer of SciTegic's Pipeline Product for drug discovery research informatics |
Millennium is using the product in cheminformatics research (9/25) |
Synaptica Ltd.* |
Maybridge |
Research agreement to undertake a medicinal chemistry lead-optimization program for one of Synaptica's therapeutic programs |
Maybridge scientists will work with a team at Synaptica to generate a series of candidates for progression into Synaptica's development pipeline (10/14) |
Valentis Inc. |
Epimmune |
Nonexclusive license agreement for Valentis' DNA vaccine delivery technology for use in developing cancer treatments |
Epimmune will have rights to use Valentis' PINC polymer DNA delivery technology in up to four preventive and therapeutic DNA cancer vaccine products; Valentis will receive an up-front license fee and would receive milestones and royalties on product sales; Epimmune will fund development (10/30) |
Variagenics |
Quest |
Licensing agreement granting Quest nonexclusive rights to commercialize laboratory- developed tests for MTHFR allele testing associated with increased thromboembolic disease risk and other disorders |
Financial and other details were not disclosed (10/30) |
Vertex |
Zymark Corp.* |
Purchase agreement for two of Zymark's Allegro high-throughput screening systems for internal drug discovery work |
The systems were installed and will be used in conjunction with Vertex's technologies in several unnamed target areas (10/8) |
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Notes: |
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# This chart does not include agreements that involve agricultural product development. It may include some collaborations that occurred before Sept. 25, but that were not listed in the previous chart. |
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* Private companies are indicated with an asterisk. |
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** Denotes the date the item ran in BioWorld International. |
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Unless otherwise noted, stock symbols listed are on the Nasdaq market. |
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AMEX = American Stock Exchange; ASX = Australian Stock Exchange; LSE = London Stock Exchange; NYSE = New York Stock Exchange; OTC BB = Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board; VSE = Vancouver Stock Exchange |
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