Abbott/Genelabs
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Enter agreement granting Abbott a worldwide, non-exclusive license to develop and commercialize diagnostic and screening products for "hepatitis X virus." Genelabs says the virus, which has not been characterized, "is believed to be an agent responsible for transfusion-transmitted hepatitis not caused by hepatitis B or C viruses." Under the agreement, Genelabs will receive from Abbott license and milestone payments that could exceed $10 mil., as well as royalties on sales by Abbott of HXV products. Genelabs retains the right to develop HXV confirmatory tests. The agreement builds on a similar deal between the two companies covering hepatitis E virus diagnostics products. Genelabs launched an HEV screening test in Asia in June ("The Gray Sheet" June 8, I&W-2)....