In February 2006, we entered into a collaboration agreement with Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research, Inc. to discover, develop, and commercialize drugs targeting Bcl protein family members for the treatment of a broad range of cancers. Under the terms of this agreement, we granted to Novartis an exclusive, worldwide license to research, develop, and commercialize pharmaceutical products that are based upon our proprietary Bcl inhibitors. Novartis paid us a $15 million up-front license fee, an affiliate of Novartis made a $5 million equity investment in us, and Novartis provided us research funding of approximately $10 million over an initial two-year research term that ends February 2008. Novartis is responsible for funding all further development and commercialization and is obligated to make payments to Infinity totaling over $370 million if certain research, development, and commercialization milestones are achieved. In addition, Novartis is obligated to pay royalties upon the successful commercialization of any products developed under the alliance.
With Novartis, we are conducting joint research to identify molecules for clinical development. Novartis will have primary responsibility for clinical development and commercialization of any collaboration products. Infinity has the right to co-detail any collaboration products in the United States, with our detailing costs to be reimbursed by Novartis.