Medicis Pharmaceutical and Anacor Pharmaceuticals have entered into a research and development pact to discover and develop small molecule therapeutics for acne using Anacor’s boron-based chemistry platform. Medicis could pay more than US$160 M to Anacor, including US$7 M upfront and up to US$153 M in milestone payments if it exercises an option to obtain an exclusive licence to products developed under the collaboration. The deal is part of Medicis’ efforts to reinforce its acne drug portfolio.