BioChem Pharma Inc. announced Monday it has signed anagreement with the Biotechnology Research Institute of theNational Research Council of Canada (BRI) to collaborate onresearch on cardiovascular diseases. The research will focuson a new generation of anti-thrombin compounds discovered bythe BRI.

The three-year agreement is valued at $5.3 million U.S. andmay be renewed for another two years.

BioChem will obtain exclusive worldwide commercial rights todiscoveries resulting from the research and will partially fundit. The BRI will contribute its expertise in protein engineeringand biomolecular modeling.

BioChem estimates the worldwide anti-thrombin productmarket to be approximately $405 million a year.

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