GSK and Anacor Extend R&D Collaboration

The amended agreement provides an option for GSK to expand its rights around the bacterial enzyme target LeuRS in return for a milestone payment ranging from $5.5 million to $6.5 million.

Anacor Pharmaceuticals announced Tuesday that the company and GlaxoSmithKline have amended and expanded their R&D pact to provide GSK the option to extend its rights around the bacterial enzyme target leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS), as well as to add new programs for tuberculosis (TB) and malaria using Anacor’s boron chemistry platform.

As per the amendment, Anacor will receive a $5 million upfront payment as well as additional potential milestones and research funding of as much as $11.3 million by the end of 2012. Anacor is also eligible to receive additional milestones and royalties on future sales of resulting products.

The original collaboration began in October 2007 and was centered on the discovery, development and worldwide commercialization of boron