ExonHit and Allergan expand collaboration
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
French company ExonHit Therapeutics and Allergan have expanded and extended an agreement to develop drugs for neurodegenerative and eye diseases and pain. Financial details have not been disclosed. Allergan has exercised its option to extend the deal until December 2011 and it now includes the discovery of antibodies for eye disorders based on epitope technology. The agreement expands Allergan's rights to sublicense potential compounds. ExonHit will receive up-front payments and development and sales-based milestones as well as royalties on future sales. EHT/AGN 0001, the most advanced compound from the collaboration, is completing Phase I trials for pain. Other compounds are in preclinical testing for pain, ophthalmology and neurodegenerative disease indications. The companies initiated the deal in December 2002 and have renewed it several times.