Interneuron Pharmaceuticals Inc. has received exclusiveworldwide rights from The Mayo Foundation for MedicalEducation and Research to patents for compounds withpotential application to Alzheimer's disease.

The agreement includes Huperzine A, Huperzine A analogs, andany additional patents on new and improved syntheses ofHuperzine A.

Huperzine A, a naturally occurring substance, has been usedoutside the United States to treat Alzheimer's disease becauseit inhibits cholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down theneurotransmitter acetylcholine. A deficiency of acetylcholine isassociated with Alzheimer's.

Interneuron said that production of Huperzine A in thelaboratory could improve the economics of the therapeutic.

The Lexington, Mass., company (NASDAQ:IPIC) will pay aninitial fee, make payments of cash and stock upon reachingcertain milestones, and pay sales royalties. Other financialterms weren't disclosed.

The stock gained $1.88 to close at $11.88 on Monday.

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