News you can use: ANTISOMA

LONDON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - British cancer specialist Antisoma Plc (quote from Yahoo! UK & Ireland: ASM.L) said on Friday it would receive enhanced royalties on future sales of its lead product, pemtumomab, under a renewed licencing deal with Abbott Laboratories Inc (NYSE:ABT - news).

The company said it would also receive an additional milestone payment and would be able, under certain conditions, to regain marketing rights for the product, which is under development to treat ovarian and gastric cancer.

In return, Antisoma said it would assume Abbott's share of the development costs for pemtumomab spread over the next three years.

The firm added it was in talks with investment banks about securing funding to take its portfolio of cancer drugs forward, and that discussions were also well-advanced about possible out-licensing deals.

Silberstürmer