10 May 2005, 16:43 GMT - Building on leads generated from Southern Research's proprietary compound repository, scientists from both companies will interact closely as a drug discovery team in a lead expansion and optimization program. Southern Research Institute will share in intellectual property and receive milestone payments gained from the efforts.

Southern Research is a diversified network of collaborative centers for scientific discovery and technology development, with a proven track record in the early discovery and synthesis of anticancer drugs. Its medicinal chemists have discovered and synthesized six of the FDA-approved cancer drugs now on the market with clofarabine (Genzyme's Clolar) being the most recent to win approval in late 2004.

The company also creates and tests drugs for neurodegenerative disorders and infectious diseases, including HIV, hepatitis, herpes, tuberculosis, SARS, hantavirus, avian influenza and West Nile virus.