Eolas Therapeutics, a therapeutic development company based in Carlsbad, Calif., has entered into a worldwide license and partnership agreement with AstraZeneca on the Eolas Orexin-1 Receptor Antagonist (EORA) program for smoking cessation and other indications. The EORA program was awarded a Blueprint Neurotherapeutics (BPN) grant from the NIH for the development of the program from the preclinical stage through phase I clinical trials.

"We are pleased that support from the NIH's Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN) facilitated Eolas' efforts aimed at developing new therapies for addiction," said Rajesh Ranganathan, Ph.D., director of the Office of Translational Research at the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, which manages the BPN program for all the participating NIH institutes and centers. "The goal of the BPN is to speed the practical application of promising neuroscience projects by supporting early-stage research that will attract industry support. This partnership between Eolas and AstraZeneca shows that the BPN strategy is working and that combining the strengths and capabilities of industry and academia can accelerate research."

The total deal potential is in excess of $145 million. This includes upfront, clinical and regulatory milestone payments. Additionally, Eolas is eligible to receive royalties on commercial sales.