S-A signs ophthalmology deal

The ophthalmology division of sanofi-aventis (S-A), Fovea Pharmaceuticals, has signed a co-operation agreement with the Institut de la Vision (page is in French), one of the main eye disease research centres in Europe, for research in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of ocular diseases.

The agreement aims to set up a partnership between S-A and the Institute on the model of translational R&D and to strengthen the company's collaboration with the organisations that make up the Institute, including the Pierre and Marie Curie University, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research and the French National Center for Scientific Research.

Under the terms of the three-year agreement, S-A will be given priority access to the technological platforms of the Institute to conduct research activities and will support research and collaboration projects in particular in the area of regeneration of the optical nerve, vascular biology, inflammation and gene therapy in various eye tissues. S-A will be granted exclusive and worldwide rights to the results of the collaboration. In the case of commercialisation, it would pay royalties to members of the Institute.

Christopher A Viehbacher, CEO of S-A, said: "This collaboration will encourage the sharing of technical expertise and know-how with the objective to deliver innovative therapies for people with visual impairment and supports our ambition to build a global offer in ophthalmology for patients."