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antiquity
02-18-2002, 08:04 AM
Lundbeck<LUN.CO> in licence deal with U.S. firm


COPENHAGEN, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Danish pharmaceuticals group Lundbeck <LUN.CO> said on Monday it had entered a licensing agreement and an equity investment in U.S.-based private-owned biotech firm Warren Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Lundbeck has licensed certain rights to Warren Pharmaceuticals' proprietary tissue protective technology, Lundbeck said in a statement.

"We are impressed by Warren's scientific achievements which open a new avenue for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders," Lundbeck head of research and development Claus Braestrup said.

Lundbeck also said it had invested $5 million in the biotech firm. Danish biotech venture fund BankInvest Biomedical Venture has also invested $5 million in Warren Pharmaceuticals.

The deal is part of Lundbeck's strategy to make itself less dependant on the sale of its antidepressant drug Cipramil/Celexa, which accounts for more than 80 percent of its total revenues.

At 1403 GMT, Lundbeck shares were one crown or 0.45 percent down at 220 crowns.

Copenhagen bourse`s top-20 KFX index <.KFX> and Dow Jones Europe health index <.SXDP>, both of which Lundbeck is a member, were off one percent and 0.34 percent respectively.

Animal studies showed potential use of the technology for treatment of brain and spine injury and Alzheimer's disease, Lundbeck said.