Epix, Glaxo in Development Deal

The companies pledge to develop drugs based on G-protein receptors.

Author:: TSC Staff
Publish date:: Dec 12, 2006 7:20 AM EST

Epix

surged 45% early Tuesday on news of a big drug development linkup.

GlaxoSmithKline

agreed to buy 3 million shares of Epix as the drug companies set a collaboration to work on drugs using so-called G-protein coupled receptors.

Lexington, Mass.-based Epix said it will get upfront payments of $35 million, including proceeds from the stock sale, and will be eligible for milestone payments of up to $1.2 billion. Epix will also receive tiered double-digit royalties on sales by GSK of all collaboration-developed product sales.

The collaboration with London-based Glaxo covers the treatment of Alzheimer's and other diseases. The deal includes Epix's novel 5-HT4 partial agonist program, PRX-03140, in early-stage clinical development for the treatment of Alzheimer's.

Epix said it expects to end 2006 with more than $100 million in cash and marketable securities. It expects to have cash sufficient to fund operations through 2008.

Epix surged $2.52 to $8.03.