Cholesterol Remains a Sticky Foe

AstraZeneca has said only that, under terms of the marketing agreement, it can make a decision within 45 days after reviewing the data. Although AstraZeneca has made a $50 million upfront payment based on a marketing deal signed in late 2005, the big payments to AtheroGenics depend on AGI-1067 meeting research and sales goals.

One of those, worth $300 million, is linked to the latest clinical trial. AstraZeneca would pay another $650 million depending on sales goals achieved by the heart drug, as well as sales-based royalties.

AstraZeneca faces a tough call because it has been burned by several expensive failures in recent years involving experimental drugs for treating diabetes, preventing blood clots and reducing the risk of stroke.

Some analysts believe AstraZeneca will cancel its arrangement with AtheroGenics even though the drug giant's near-term R&D pipeline is weak. If AstraZeneca walks away, its next heart hope will focus on a deal with Abbott to combine an updated version of TriCor with Crestor.