NEW YORK, Jan. 21 (GenomeWeb News) - Iconix Pharmaceuticals has signed research and technology licensing deals with Bristol-Myers Squibb and Abbott Laboratories, the company said today.
Both companies will have access to Iconix's DrugMatrix chemogenomics database, listing genomic effects of drugs and chemicals, and to its genomic biomarkers for potential toxicity and side effects of drug candidates, called Drug Signatures.
BMS plans to use Iconix's chemogenomics technology in several research projects each year to prioritize candidate drugs, and to study the toxicity and mechanisms of new compounds before, during, and after pre-clinical development. Under the agreement with BMS, valued at $24 million, Mountain View, Calif.-based Iconix will receive an upfront payment, technology license fees, project fees, and commercialization milestone payments.
Abbott wants to utilize Iconix's technology to identify biomarkers for the clinical development and commercialization of drugs. In addition, both companies plan to develop cell-based gene expression screening tests for early stage compounds to assess their potential liver toxicity. Iconix said it may commercialize this platform in the future.
Abbott will pay Iconix an upfront fee, technology access fees, research funding, and clinical milestones.