Under an exclusive worldwide co-development and commercialization agreement entered into in 2006, HGS and Novartis will co-commercialize albinterferon alfa-2b in the United States as ZALBIN?„?, and will share clinical development costs, U.S. commercialization costs and U.S. profits equally. Novartis will be responsible for commercialization of albinterferon alfa-2b as JOULFERON?® in the rest of the world, and will pay HGS a royalty on those sales. These brand names will be subject to confirmation by health authorities at the time of product approval.

HGS has primary responsibility for the bulk manufacture of albinterferon alfa-2b, and Novartis will have responsibility for commercial manufacturing of the finished drug product. Clinical development, commercial milestone and other payments to HGS could total as much as $507.5 million, including $207.5 million received to date. The remaining payments to HGS under the agreement relate to the achievement of certain regulatory approval and commercial milestones.

Source Human Genome Sciences