A roundup of news from the large and mid-sized bio/pharmaceutical companies featuring Eli Lilly and Company & Sandoz. Highlights below.  

For the latest news roundup on small and Emerging Pharma companies, see Biotech Briefs. 

Partnering News 
* Lilly, OmniAb in $370-M Ion Channel Pact
* Sandoz, Henlius in $322-M Biosimilar Pact 

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Partnering News 

Lilly, OmniAb in $370-M Ion Channel Pact 
Eli Lilly and Company and OmniAb, a provider of drug-discovery research technology, have entered an agreement for a new ion channel program, in a deal worth up to $370 million.  

The collaboration leverages OmniAb’s technology platform and expertise in ion channel discovery and drug screening. OmniAb’s technology platform creates and screens diverse antibody repertoires and is designed to quickly identify optimal antibodies and other target-binding proteins for drug-development efforts.  

Under the agreement, OmniAb will receive an upfront payment and is eligible to receive up to $370 million in research, development, and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties on global net sales. The therapeutic target and modality are undisclosed. 

Source: OmniAb 

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Sandoz, Henlius in $322-M Biosimilar Pact 
Sandoz has entered an agreement with Shanghai Henlius Biotech, a Shanghai, China-based bio/pharmaceutical company, for up to 10 biosimilars in a deal worth up to $322 million. 

The two companies will collaborate on up to 10 biosimilars, with an initial bundle of assets already agreed to. Under the agreement, Sandoz will have global commercialization rights for agreed biosimilar assets outside China while Henlius will be responsible for development and manufacturing. The collaboration agreement is milestones-based for a total consideration of up to $322 million, with near-term payments associated with the initial assets that could reach up to $100.5 million. 

Source: Sandoz