Bristol-Myers Squibb announced a collaboration agreement with biotech company Exelixis to discover, develop and commercialize novel therapies targeted against the Liver X receptor, a nuclear hormone receptor implicated in a variety of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Terms of the agreement call for an upfront payment from Bristol-Myers Squibb of $17.5 million to Exelixis and research and development funding of approximately $10 million a year for an initial period of two years. Exelixis also may receive prespecified development and regulatory milestones totaling approximately $140 million per product for up to two products from the collaboration, as well as sales milestones and royalties on sales of products commercialized under the collaboration.Pfizer entered a deal with Incyte Corporation to research, manufacture and market Incyte’s anti-inflammatory CCR2 antagonist drugs. Under the agreement, Incyte will receive an upfront payment of $40 million and will be eligible to receive additional milestone payments of up to $743 million for the successful development and commercialization of CCR2 antagonists in multiple indications, as well as royalties on worldwide sales.

Organon USA, a unit of Akzo Nobel, announced it has entered into a distribution agreement for Anzemet injection (dolasetron mesylate injection) with Aventis Pharmaceuticals, a member of the Sanofi-Aventis Group, which will be become effective Jan. 1, 2006. Organon USA will be responsible for the marketing, sales and managed markets activities, including pricing and contracting as well as recording sales for Anzemet injection for use in the prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and/or vomiting.MedImmune announced it has entered into a licensing agreement with BioWa and Xencor to gain access to two different technologies that may enhance the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in targeting cancer. MedImmune licensed the right to use BioWa’s Potelligent technology as a method for maximizing the potential of therapeutic antibodies targeting cancer. MedImmune licensed the right to use Xencor’s XmAb proprietary engineered Fc domains in the development of MAbs against select cancer targets.

Ventiv Health, a provider of healthcare commercialization services, has announced an alliance between its commercial services division and Archway Marketing Services, a provider of sales and marketing execution services. The alliance will provide sample management services to pharmaceutical clients with large-scale sampling requirements.