Metasyn joins forces with Daiichi

Contrast developer Metasyn has signed a $12 million agreement

with Daiichi Radioisotope Laboratories of Tokyo for Japanese development

and marketing of MS-325, Metasyn's vascular MRI contrast agent.

Under the agreement, Metasyn will receive $12 million in license

fees, milestone payments, and an equity investment, in addition

to royalties on sales of the product. Daiichi will be responsible

for clinical development, registration, and commercialization

of MS-325 in Japan. Metasyn, of Cambridge, MA, will manufacture

MS-325 for Daiichi and will retain rights to the product outside

Japan. Metasyn expects to begin clinical trials of the agent in

the U.S. this year.