Alcon, Inc announced that it has executed a new agreement and broadened an existing agreement with two different companies to expand its products under development.

Alcon entered into a licensing agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for global ophthalmic rights to cilomilast, a phosphodiesterase IV inhibitor. In addition to this new agreement, Alcon expanded its existing drug research alliance with Origenis GmbH with a focus on the discovery and development of the small molecules that might one day have a role in the treatment of eye diseases. Both agreements were signed by Alcon's affiliate, Alcon Research, Ltd.

"Alcon's focus is on expanding our research pipeline through targeted collaborations," said Sabri Markabi, who is Alcon's senior vice president of research and development and chief medical officer. "We believe the cilomilast compound has potential for treating dry eye as well as other ophthalmic conditions. The expansion of our already successful arrangement with Origenis will also help Alcon add more early-stage compounds to our exploratory efforts."

Terms of the agreement with GSK include an upfront payment, with additional payments to GSK based on the achievement of developmental milestones and the receipt of ophthalmic product approvals incorporating cilomilast. Royalties will be paid to GSK on the future sales of products incorporating the compound. GSK retains all rights to cilomilast for applications outside of ophthalmic indications and a right to co-promote cilomilast to some physicians for ophthalmic indications.

The terms of the agreement with Origenis provide that Alcon will retain the rights to any products for ophthalmic and nasal applications and Origenis will retain certain rights to all other uses of drug candidates discovered during the alliance. Alcon will make research payments to Origenis through a series of development milestones and royalties on sales.

Alcon is the world's leading eye care company, with sales of approximately $5.6 billion in 2007.

Origenis GmbH is a privately-owned biotechnology company headquartered in the Munich Biotech Region.