Sanofi commits up to $375M for Alopexx antibody deal

Sanofi-Aventis CEO Chris Viehbacher continues to rack up big-dollar development deals. This time around it's a $375 million deal to collaborate with Cambridge, MA-based Alopexx Pharmaceuticals on a preclinical antibody program that targets infectious diseases.

"The emergence of antibiotic resistant infections is and remains an unmet medical need," said Dr Marc Cluzel, executive vice-president R&D, Sanofi-Aventis. "I am very enthusiastic about this collaboration with Alopexx on such a promising product that could become, if developed to its full potential, a key driver of our company's anti-infective portfolio with a strong position in the prevention and treatment of resistant infections."

Neither company spelled out the terms, but Alopexx gets an upfront payment, research funding and is eligible for development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments which could reach $375 million in total. Alopexx also stands to earn royalties on sales of products commercialized under the license and collaboration. Alopexx will take the product into Phase I clinical trials during 2010, with an option for an exclusive worldwide license for Sanofi.

- here's the release for more