In line with its strategy of building a branded drugs pipeline focused on respiratory and CNS diseases, Teva Pharmaceutical industries has licensed global rights to develop and commercialise Xenon Pharmaceuticals’ clinical-stage pain drug XEN402. Xenon will receive US$41 M upfront and could also receive up to US$335 M in development, regulatory and commercial milestones payments. It also retains an option to participate in commercialisation of the drug in the US. With the deal, Teva joins Xenon’s list of big pharma collaborators, which includes Roche’s Genentech, Merck & Co. and Novartis.