Contrast makers cut patent deal

Epix Medical has granted Bracco Imaging a worldwide, nonexclusive, royalty-bearing license for the use of certain patents. The $10 million deal covers patents related to Bracco’s Multihance, which is used to image the liver and central nervous system. In May 2000, Epix granted Schering a worldwide, nonexclusive, royalty-bearing license for the sale of Eovist, an investigational MRI contrast agent for liver imaging. The patents are owned by the Massachusetts General Hospital and licensed exclusively to Epix, which will receive upfront payments made up of a license fee, royalties on past sales, prepayment of future royalties, and a contingent license fee based on marketing approval of Multihance in the U.S.