[هجهوج]

* Says will pursue drug with partner
By Vidya L Nathan
BANGALORE, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Biotechnology company Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc (RIGL.O) said it was close to signing a partner to pursue development of its experimental psoriasis treatment.
"We are continuing to work on R348 as a topical agent for psoriasis. It is likely that in the next three months we will announce a deal on R348," Chief Operating Officer Raul Rodriguez told Reuters. Rodriguez said the company would start mid-stage studies on the compound only with a partner and was looking for a global collaboration with a dermatological and/or ophthalmic focus. He said the company, which separately announced a collaboration on its rheumatoid arthritis drug R788 with AstraZeneca PLC (AZN.L) on Tuesday [ID:SGE61F054], was still in the process of determining the terms of the deal.
Shares of the South San Francisco, California-based company were down 8 percent at $8.71 Tuesday afternoon on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Vidya L Nathan; Editing by Unnikrishnan Nair)