ELBION AND WYETH TO COLLABORATE ON SCHIZOPHRENIA THERAPIES

Elbion, a Belgian specialty pharmaceutical company, said it will collaborate with Wyeth to develop new schizophrenia treatments. Elbion's phosphodiesterase 10 (PDE10) program for central nervous system disorders will be a major part of the agreement, elbion added.

Elbion could receive up to $110 million from the collaboration, including an upfront payment, payments associated with developmental milestones and research funding, as well as royalties based on annual net sales of the products, the company said.

The goal of the agreement is to develop new chemical entities that inhibit PDE10, which is expressed in brain neurons associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders, according to elbion.

Wyeth will be responsible for further clinical development of selected compounds, which will happen in elbion's research facility in Germany.