SJ Berwin takes lead for French drug company on Pfizer development deal

SJ Berwin has won the lead role on a French-American pharma deal, strengthening its relationship with French drug company NicOx.

The City law firm won the mandate to advise NYSE Euronext Paris-listed NicOx as it bought back rights to develop and market an innovative eye disease drug from US pharma giant Pfizer.

The acquisition comes after two previous agreements between the companies in 2004 and 2006, and includes the rights to a new drug for treating glaucoma, as well as technology that could be used for treating other eye diseases currently without any effective treatment. The diseases affect millions worldwide, causing impaired vision or total blindness.

The deal was arranged under English law, with SJ Berwin winning the mandate based on a longstanding relationship with NicOx. It will see Pfizer providing temporary technical support to help with the transition of any clinical tests, with NicOx agreeing to pay Pfizer two lump sums as well as royalties on future sales.

City-based commercial partner Andrew Shindler took the lead for NicOx, while Pfizer relied on its US-based in-house legal team.

Shindler said: "This is the latest in a series of transactions we have concluded for NicOx with large and medium-sized pharmaceutical companies over the last eight or nine years."


Source : Legalweek

Author: Sofia Lind
09 Sep 2009 | 10:57
Law firms:
SJ Berwin