ZURICH (AFX) - Novartis AG said it has exercised its option from Idenix Pharmaceuticals to in-license the late-stage development compound valopicitabine (NM283) for the treatment of hepatitis C.
Novartis may pay up to 70 mln usd in license fees to Idenix, it said, of which 25 mln were paid at the time of exercising the option. Further payments may be payable based upon regulatory milestones.
Idenix and Novartis will co-promote this compound in the US and the five major European markets, while Novartis will have exclusive rights to market and promote it in the rest of the world.
'Valopicitabine complements our current hepatitis pipeline and represents an important step forward in our mission to bring more effective and safer drugs to patients suffering from hepatitis C,' Novartis said. afx.zurich@afxnews.com scs/joy COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
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