Galapagos NV (Euronext & LSE: GLPG) announced today that it has entered into a collaboration with Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDIX) on selected hepatitis and HIV infectious disease programs. Pursuant to the collaboration, Galapagos' service division BioFocus will supply its proprietary SoftFocus® chemical compound collections to Idenix and provide expertise in the design and synthesis of biologically-directed compound collections. In addition, BioFocus will provide hit-to-lead and lead optimisation services. The entire discovery contract collaboration is worth up to $2.5 million over two years.

This arrangement represents Galapagos' first collaboration with Idenix. Under the terms of the agreement, Galapagos will receive undisclosed technology access fees for SoftFocus® collections, as well as a fee component for medicinal chemistry services plus success payments upon realization of certain objectives relating to the identification of pre-clinical candidates.

Onno van de Stolpe, CEO of Galapagos, commented: "This agreement with Idenix is highly significant for our company and is further testament to the medicinal chemistry capabilities of our services division BioFocus. We are confident that this partnership will be fruitful and we are proud to be associated with this drug discovery program, which seeks to combat health issues associated with hepatitis and HIV."