AZ inks licensing deal for antidepressant compounds

AstraZeneca has obtained for a global license for preclinical antidepressant compounds developed by collaborators Virginia Tech and Mayo Clinic. The agreement for the provides AstraZeneca exclusive manufacturing and commercial rights. AZ, Virginia Tech and Mayo Clinic have also signed on for a research collaboration to generate additional novel TRI (Triple Reuptake Inhibitor) compounds. Financial details were not disclosed.

"Through our clinical practice, we recognize the need for improved therapies to treat individuals suffering from depression or anxiety," Elliott Richelson, M.D., Mayo Clinic, co-inventor of the technology adds. "The additional dopamine action of our TRI compounds has the potential to deliver a superior antidepressant in terms of greater efficacy and an improved side effect profile. By collaborating with AstraZeneca, a company with a strong history of developing new medicines, we have the opportunity to both advance and expand upon these scientific discoveries to address better the needs of patients worldwide."

- check out the AstraZeneca release

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