Chiron Corp. and Syntex Corp. have formed an R&Dcollaborative agreement for the discovery and design ofsynthetic compounds that inhibit the interaction of cellularadhesion molecules (CAMs).

Under the agreement, Chiron of Emeryville, Calif., will haveexclusive worldwide rights to develop and market the CAMinhibitors for infectious disease, oncology and ophthalmologyuses. Syntex (NYSE:SYN) will have exclusive worldwide rights todevelop and market the CAM inhibitors for inflammation,asthma, allergy and transplantation indications. Each companyhas the option to co-fund the other's development programs inreturn for profit sharing or royalties on the other company'ssales. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

CAMs regulate cell-trafficking and intercellular communication.The molecules are thought to play a major role in inflammationand other invasive processes associated with arthritis,metastatic cancer, pathological responses to infectious diseaseand other disorders.

In the division of labor, Chiron (NASDAQ:CHIR) will domolecular biology work, 3D modeling and peptide synthesis,while Syntex will provide screening capabilities and expertisein medicinal chemistry.

"This is an important strategic venture that combines Chiron'sleading programs in chemical and biological diversity, as wellas computational chemistry, with Sytex's recognized strengthsin the biology of inflammation and pharmaceutical researchand development in general," stated Walter Moos, vicepresident of Chiron's Chemical Therapeutics Research andDevelopment and Mimotopes business programs.

Several years ago Chiron licensed an adjuvant from Syntex foruse in the company's vaccine program, but nothing was everdeveloped from the adjuvant.

Palo Alto, Calif.-based Syntex has several other agreementswith biotech companies, including a collaboration with AgouronPharmaceuticals Inc., announced in June, for the developmentof drugs to treat arthritic diseases, invasive malignant tumorsand other diseases. Specifically, the work is focusing ondevelopment of selective inhibitors of one or more members ofthe class of enzymes called matrix metalloproteases, whichhave been implicated in the degradation of connective tissue inseveral diseases. Similarly, Syntex subsidiary Syntex U.S.A. Inc.has a 1990 joint venture with Synergen to develop protein-based drugs for treatment of neurological diseases.

Syntex Pharmaceuticals International Limited, a subsidiary ofSyntex, also formed a jointly-owned company with the HongKong Institute of Biotechnology. Founded in 1991, the companyHKIB/Syntex Limited, based in Hong Kong, is screeningsynthetic and natural compounds for potential aspharmaceutical products.

Currently, Syntex is focusing on chronic diseases and diseasesof the aging population and four therapeutic areas:inflammation/immunology/analgesia; neurobiology;cardiovascular; and opportunistic problems.

-- Brenda Sandburg News Editor

(c) 1997 American Health Consultants. All rights reserved.