Spotlight: Agouron Makes Pact for AIDS Drug

La Jolla-based Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc. said it could pay Immune Response Corp. of Carlsbad as much as $77 million over the next two years as part of a development and marketing pact for IR’s AIDS drug, Remune. The drug is in late-stage testing and might face Food and Drug Administration scrutiny next year. Agouron makes the AIDS drug Viracept and intends to add another product through the deal. “It should put Immune Response on the map,” said Prudential Securities analyst Caroline Copithorne.