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news.AstraZeneca has agreed to pay San Diego-based Avanir Pharmaceuticals up to $340 million in upfront and milestone payments as part of an alliance to discover and develop new compounds aimed at lowering cholesterol.
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The partnership will investigate Reverse Cholesterol Transport (RCT) enhancing compounds for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. These medicines are designed to directly increase the flow of lipids from blood vessel walls by promoting a natural process known as Reverse Cholesterol Transport.
Compounds that enhance this pathway may potentially reverse existing vascular disease in comparison to current agents that have to date only been shown to prevent disease progression.
Under the terms of the agreement, Avanir will receive an upfront payment of $10 million. In addition, Avanir is eligible for milestone payments totaling $330 million, contingent upon achievement of development and regulatory milestones and on achievement of sales targets, together with the payment of stepped royalties dependent on sales achieved.
AstraZeneca will assume responsibility for development and for both product discovery and development costs, with both parties contributing scientific expertise in the research collaboration.
“We wish to build on our existing strengths and this alliance will open up new opportunities for AstraZeneca in the treatment of cardiovascular disease,” said Gunnar Olsson, head of the cardiovascular therapy area at AstraZeneca.