The agreement includes an upfront payment, milestones and research funding potentially totaling up to $110 million over the life of the agreement. Wyeth will also pay Elbion royalties on worldwide annual net sales of the products developed.
Phosphodiesterase 10 program (PDE10) is highly expressed in the neurons in the brain associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and psychosis. By inhibiting PDE10 activity it is thought that the function of neurons could be improved offering a new mechanism of action for the treatment of schizophrenia and also for other neurological conditions.
Elbion and Wyeth will develop new chemical entities for the inhibition of PDE10 and Wyeth will be responsible for further clinical development of selected compounds.