Ipsen and Syntaxin agree botulinum toxins alliance

Ipsen has entered into an alliance with Syntaxin to research and develop new compounds in the area of botulinum toxin therapeutics.

The collaboration will utilise the respective expertise of both organisations, with Syntaxin discovering new therapeutic candidates and Ipsen conducting pharmacological, preclinical and clinical assessments.

It will see Syntaxin receive technology access fees, full-time employee support and research milestones of up to $9 million (5.7 million pounds), while Ipsen will gain exclusive worldwide rights to any therapies developed under the partnership.

This is the second collaboration between the two organisations and comes after Ipsen made a strategic investment in Syntaxin in November 2010.

Claude Bertrand, Ipsen's executive vice-president for research and development and chief scientific officer, said: "Syntaxin and Ipsen, through their synergistic expertise, are well positioned to become pioneers in the development and commercialisation of new botulinum toxins."

This comes after Ipsen formed a new haemophilia-oriented partnership with Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals earlier this year, which will focus on European commercial activities.