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www.fdanews.com/articles/83261-gsk-partners-with-vertex-to-develop-new-pain-drug

GSK PARTNERS WITH VERTEX TO DEVELOP NEW PAIN DRUG

December 20, 2005

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is partnering with Vertex Pharmaceuticals to commercialize VX-409, Vertex's investigational pain drug.

Vertex will receive a $20 million up-front payment and could receive up to an additional $385 million in development and sales threshold milestone payments based on the development of VX-409 and back-up compounds in major pharmaceutical markets across a range of indications. GSK will also pay the Cambridge, Mass.-based Vertex royalties on annual net sales.

VX-409 is a subtype selective sodium channel modulator — the first of a new class of agents targeting specific pain signals in nerve cells. Phase I clinical development of VX-409 is expected to begin early in 2007.

GSK will have the exclusive right and license to develop and commercialize VX-409 and back-up compounds worldwide.