Neurocrine partners indiplon with Pfizer

The companies partnered to develop and commercialize NBIX's indiplon, which is in Phase III testing to treat insomnia. NBIX will receive an initial payment of $100 million, and up to $300 million in milestones. PFE will fund ongoing development of the non-benzodiazepine GABA(A) receptor agonist. The companies will co-promote indiplon in the U.S., and PFE will pay NBIX co-promotion fees. PFE will have an exclusive license to develop and market the compound outside the U.S., and will pay NBIX a royalty on those sales.

Also, PFE will support NBIX's creation of a 200-member sales force for psychiatrists and sleep specialists. The NBIX sales force will detail PFE's Zoloft sertraline antidepressant to U.S. psychiatrists after NBIX submits the NDA for indiplon, which the company said could occur by the end of next year. ...