Metabasis signs collaborative agreement with Roche

Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will provide a $10 million upfront payment. In the event a development candidate is identified, Roche will assume development responsibility, and Metabasis will be eligible to receive up to $193 million in additional payments upon achievement of predetermined preclinical and clinical development events, as well as regulatory and commercialization events for each product.

For any marketed products that result from the collaboration, Roche will retain full commercial rights and pay Metabasis a royalty on net sales.

Mark Erion, chief scientific officer of Metabasis, said: “A partnership with Roche enables Metabasis and Roche to combine their respective strengths in liver-targeting and hepatitis C research with the hope that this combination will lead to a drug candidate for hepatitis C virus in the near future.”