Alkermes and RPI Announce Exclusive Licensing Agreement for Novel Drug Developed by Professor Mark Wentland Group at RPI

Mark P. Wentland, Professor Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Cambridge, MA and Troy, NY, October 5, 2006 — The biotech company Alkermes, Inc. and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute today announced they have entered into a license agreement granting Alkermes exclusive rights to a family of novel opioid receptor compounds discovered at Rensselaer. These compounds represent an opportunity for Alkermes to develop important therapeutics for a broad range of diseases and medical conditions, including addiction, pain and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Alkermes will screen this library of compounds and plans to pursue preclinical work of an undisclosed, lead oral compound that has already been identified.

Under the terms of the agreement, Rensselaer granted Alkermes an exclusive worldwide license to certain patents and patent applications relating to its compounds designed to modulate opioid receptors. Alkermes will be responsible for the continued research and development of any resulting product candidates. Rensselaer will receive from Alkermes an upfront payment, certain milestone payments relating to clinical development activities, and royalties on products resulting from the agreement. This agreement was signed following an extensive evaluation period. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“This agreement underscores Alkermes’ commitment to building our franchise in the area of CNS, including addiction,” stated Richard Pops, CEO of Alkermes. “We are excited to begin development of this promising family of compounds, which provides us with the opportunity to leverage our success and experience with VIVITROL and build our proprietary product portfolio.”

“We are delighted to partner with Alkermes,” said Ron Kudla, executive director of the Office of Intellectual Property, Technology Transfer and New Ventures at Rensselaer. “This is a wonderful example of progress under the Rensselaer Plan in the areas of biotechnology and technology transfer that demonstrates Rensselaer’s unique strength in its ability to translate scientific discoveries into practical application.”

Mark Wentland, professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Rensselaer, led a team of more than 15 Rensselaer undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students in the department of chemistry and chemical biology in the discovery of this novel family of opioid compounds. Jean Bidlack, professor of pharmacology and physiology at the University of Rochester, along with members of her pharmacology group also contributed to the research.

Published October 6, 2006