Roche’s Genentech unit plans to discover compounds and diagnostics for treatment of pain by collaborating with Xenon Pharmaceuticals, based in Vancouver.

Xenon will receive an undisclosed upfront payment from Genentech, as well as research funding. Xenon has the possibility of receiving additional R&D commercialization milestone payments of up to $646 million, plus royalties. In return, Genentech will have an exclusive license to compounds and a non-exclusive right to any diagnostics.

This alliance is Xenon’s sixth partnership with a major pharmaceutical company, including Merck, Takeda and Novartis.