Advertise With UsAdvertise on our extensive network of industry websites and newsletters.
Get the PBR newsletterSign up to our free email to get all the latest PBR
news.Genelabs Technologies has entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Novartis for the development and commercialization of compounds from Genelabs' hepatitis C non-nucleoside drug discovery program.
Subscribe to our email newsletter
The deal represents the second major collaboration for Genelabs based on its hepatitis C virus (HCV) drug delivery platform. Under the terms of the agreement, Genelabs is eligible to receive approximately $20 million over a planned two-year research program, including initial upfront payments of $12.5 million.
If all potential clinical, regulatory and sales milestones are met, additional payments to Genelabs could exceed $175 million. Genelabs is also entitled to a royalty on net sales of products covered by the collaboration.
Under the agreement, Genelabs will be responsible for drug discovery research and Novartis is responsible for development and commercialization. Novartis has an option to extend the research funding for a third year and has a right of first negotiation for Genelabs’ HCV NS5a drug discovery compounds.
“The Genelabs non-nucleosides covered by this collaboration have the potential to be complementary with other HCV drugs being developed by Novartis, and I believe Novartis is well positioned to move this project forward efficiently,” noted James Smith, Genelabs president and CEO.