Ligand gets ongoing drug development collaborations with Roche and CFF, six novel preclinical compounds and sodium ion channel technology platform capabilities in acquiring Icagen’s North Carolina operations.

Outsourcing is not just for mundane pharma services anymore. Increasingly, drugmakers are contracting for specialized R&D assistance they expect to provide strategic as well as tactical advantages.

Astellas will pay Chromocell $15m up front and could spend more than $500m on milestone fees under a license and collaboration agreement for Nav1.7 antagonists, including lead drug candidate CC8464 and backup compounds, for the treatment of neuropathic pain and other conditions.