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Mitsubishi and Affectis sign depression drug discovery deal

07 Apr 2009

Medical Affairs

Mistubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation and Affectis Pharmaceuticals have signed a collaboration deal to discover new anti-depressants.

Under the terms of the agreement, the German biopharmaceutical company will receive research fees and development milestones from its Japanese partner.

The discovery programme is focussing on a novel depression target that Affectis assisted in validating during the firms' previous collaboration, which began in February 2005.

Dr Herbet Stadler, chief executive of the German enterprise, says he is pleased with the new deal, which will involve using the company's expertise and equipment.

"This is a strong validation of our behavioural pharmacology capabilities and our behavioural interference technology platform," he asserts.

Dr Stadler adds that Mitsubishi's status as a "leading player in the global pharmaceutical industry with strengths in central nervous system research" also reflects his company's competence.

Earlier this week, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka announced that they have extended their collaboration to develop depression treatment Abilify.