In a somewhat surprise foray into the field of neuropathic pain management, Novartis has agreed to acquire privately held Spinifex Pharmaceuticals for US$200 M upfront plus up to US$500 M contingent on the achievement of certain milestones.The acquisition is centered on Spinifex's lead candidate EMA401, an angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor antagonist that has achieved clinical proof-of-concept in post-herpetic neuralgia. As it does not cross the blood-brain barrier, EMA041 offers a treatment approach that could avoid the CNS side effects of currently prescribed treatments for neuropathic pain.