(RTTNews) -  France-based drug company Sanofi-Aventis SA (SNY: News ) said Monday that its U.S. affiliate has signed an exclusive licensing deal with specialty pharmaceutical company Intelliject, Inc. for a novel epinephrine auto injector for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, or anaphylaxis, in the U.S. and Canada.

Under the terms of the deal, Sanofi-aventis U.S. will make an upfront payment and Intelliject will be eligible for future milestone payments and royalties on product sales.

Sanofi-Aventis U.S. will be responsible for manufacturing and commercial activities in North America. Intelliject will be responsible for the on-going development as well as regulatory submission in the U.S., and has also retained certain co-promotion rights for the product in the U.S.

In Canada, Sanofi-Aventis will be responsible for leading efforts required to obtain marketing authorization from Health Canada, and thereafter for marketing and selling the product.

Separately, Intelliject said Sanofi-Aventis U.S. will pay an initial upfront payment of $25 million. Further, Intelliject will be eligible to receive development and commercial milestones of up to $205 million as well as tiered double-digit royalties on sales of any products commercialized under the license.
Commenting on the deal, Brent Ragans, Vice President, Head of General Therapeutics, Sanofi-Aventis U.S. said, "We are pleased to have this opportunity to offer this innovative delivery device for the millions of people who are at risk of this life-threatening allergic reaction each year. This agreement complements our strong presence in the U.S. as a leader in the allergy arena and is a great example of our company's transformation into a provider of healthcare solutions."

Spencer Williamson, President and CEO of Intelliject, said, ""We are delighted to have sanofi-aventis U.S. as our partner with their proven track record in and commitment to the allergy/immunology area. This partnership marks a key milestone in our quest to make our novel epinephrine auto-injector available to the millions of patients at risk for anaphylaxis."

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that involves a number of body systems and can be fatal within minutes, either through swelling that shuts off airways or through a significant drop in blood pressure. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology estimates there are up to 2,000 episodes of anaphylaxis per every 100,000 people in the U.S. each year, although the precise incidence of anaphylaxis is unknown and is likely underreported.

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