Vanderbilt University of Nashville, Tenn., and global biopharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) have signed a collaboration agreement for the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies acting on the mGluR4 glutamate receptor, known as positive allosteric modulators or PAMs, for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

The Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery (VCNDD) will identify drug candidates from its existing program, which obtained major support from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF). BMS will have the right to develop and commercialize products resulting from the collaborative research program.

"The long-term commitment of and collaboration with the MJFF were critical to advancing this program to the stage where it is now perfectly positioned to work closely with Bristol-Myers Squibb for further development," said P. Jeffrey Conn, VCNDD director and Lee E. Limbird chair in pharmacology. "Partnering with Bristol-Myers Squibb is a real win for Vanderbilt and for Parkinson's patients."

Vanderbilt University will receive an upfront payment and multi-year research funding to continue to discover additional compounds. Vanderbilt is eligible to receive milestones and royalties based on developmental success and worldwide sales of the drugs emerging from the collaboration.