AstraZeneca has been granted rights to evaluate Orexo’s preclinical OX-CLI programme for respiratory diseases. It also has an option to acquire the programme compounds for all indications, subject to a full asset transfer agreement under which Orexo would be eligible to receive development milestones and future royalties on product sales. OX-CLI was previously part of the Swedish company’s 2010 R&D alliance with Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals, which was terminated in January 2012.