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Exhibit 10.6.2

PRIVATE AGREEMENT

between

        GRUPPO LEPETIT S.p.A., having its registered office at Via R. Lepetit 8,
Lainate (MI), Milan, Tax and VAT No. 0079596015, and Milan Companies Registry
no. 22409,—in the person of its pro tempore legal representative,

        (hereinafter referred to as "LEPETIT ")

and

        BIOSEARCH ITALIA S.p.A., having its registered office at Via Terraggio
17, Milan, Tax and VAT No. 11922440158, and Milan Companies Registry
no. 1523129,—in the person of its pro tempore legal representative

        (hereinafter referred to as "BIOSEARCH")

WHEREAS

•On 4 December 1998 BIOSEARCH and LEPETIT entered into a private agreement
whereby they agreed the basic principles governing their future relations in
connection with the development and production of propriety [*] and BIOSEARCH
technology (hereinafter the "Deed")

•BIOSEARCH has asked LEPETIT whether the latter would be willing to produce for
it the [*] [*] (hereinafter "[*]") at LEPETIT's Brindisi plant (hereinafter the
"Plant") using technology owned by BIOSEARCH ITALIA (hereinafter the
"Technology");

•LEPETIT has declared that is willing to perform such activities and accordingly
the parties have, in keeping with the terms of the Deed, negotiated in good
faith all the aspects of the activities to be carried out;

•now it is necessary to formalise in a specific agreement the contents of the
understanding reached.

THEREFORE THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS

ARTICLE 1—RECITALS

        The preceding recitals are an integral part of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 2—OBJECT

        BIOSEARCH appoints LEPETIT to proceed to produce [*] subject to the
terms and conditions set forth herein. For its part LEPETIT accepts the
appointment.

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        [*] Indicates that certain information in this exhibit has been omitted
and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Confidential
treatment has been requested with respect to the omitted portions.

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ARTICLE 3—[*] LOAN

3.1In view of the necessity to adapt the facilities at the Plant in order to
proceed to production of [*] and in keeping with the terms of the Deed, [*]
undertakes to acquire the equipment agreed with [*] and to take responsibility
for modifying and adapting the facilities required for the production process
(hereinafter referred to all together as the "Equipment"), subject to joint
testing of the Equipment.

3.2[*] undertakes to follow installation of the Equipment in the Plant with its
own engineering personnel.

3.3Further to and within the meaning of Article 1803 et seq. of the Civil Code,
[*] grants a [*] loan of the Equipment to [*] which accepts. At a subsequent
date the Equipment shall be described in a separate written document which will
upon its signing form an integral part of this Agreement.

The Equipment will be used at the Plant within the framework of the [*]
production process

3.4[*] shall maintain custody of and manage the Equipment with the care one
would expect of a good father, performing all ordinary and special maintenance.

3.5Upon cessation for any reason of the relationship concerning [*], [*] will
[*] possession of the Equipment, arranging to remove it at its own risk and
expense.

3.6The [*] loan shall commence from the date of effective installation of the
Equipment, as indicated in the installation report, and will terminate on the
date of cessation of relations concerning [*]. On that date the parties may also
reach an agreement in good faith on the possibility for [*] to purchase the
Equipment unless further relations are entertained between the parties regarding
other studies and products which will entail use of the Equipment.

3.7In any event [*] shall accept the return of the Equipment in the state it
finds it resulting from fair wear and tear, hereby waiving any right to
compensation or right to have the Equipment returned in a pristine state unless
the damage thereto is connected to the clear negligence of [*].

3.8[*] shall assist in the installation of the Equipment and provide the
engineering support of its own personnel or third parties as the case may be.
Such service, as well as any assistance provided by third parties (engineering
companies, specialists, assemblers, etc.) must be authorised in advance by [*],
which shall bear the full costs thereof. Any objections concerning defects
(latent or otherwise) in the Equipment or the machinery lent [*] shall be made
by [*] directly to the suppliers, as [*] has made such arrangements with the
latter. [*] undertakes to ensure that the [*] lent Equipment is kept free of any
charges and burdens.

        Any claims or complaints regarding possible defects or faults, including
hidden defects, in the Equipment or the machinery granted on [*] loan must be
addressed by [*] directly to the suppliers, as has been agreed by [*] with the
said suppliers themselves. [*] undertakes to keep the Equipment granted on [*]
loan free of all liens and encumbrances.

ARTICLE 4—MANUFACTURING

4.1BIOSEARCH appoints LEPETIT to proceed to utilise the technology for the
production of [*] according to the procedure (hereinafter the "Manufacturing")
that will be the result of activities performed in collaboration with LEPETIT
for its finalisation on an industrial scale.

4.2In accordance with Article 4 of the Deed, [*] for [*] and BIOSEARCH is
expressly [*] of [*] of [*] of its [*] during the period of effectiveness of
this Agreement.

4.3LEPETIT undertakes to perform the Manufacturing fully observing the
applicable laws and good manufacturing practice as well as the production
licenses issued by the Ministry of Health.

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ARTICLE 5—LIABILITY

5.1LEPETIT shall be liable for any loss, damage or claim of any nature arising
out of or in connection with the Manufacturing and directly stemming from its
activities save for cases of force majeure and circumstances beyond the control
of LEPETIT. Such liability refers solely to activities carried out or to be
carried out by LEPETIT further to this Agreement.

5.2LEPETIT shall not be liable for any loss, damage or claim where such have
arisen as a result of the activities carried out or to be carried out by
BIOSEARCH further to this Agreement.

5.3Should LEPETIT come to know of any claim and/or legal proceedings instituted
with reference to [*], it shall timely notify BIOSEARCH accordingly in order to
agree a common line of defence.

5.4BIOSEARCH shall be liable for any loss, damage or claim of any nature arising
out of or in connection with the application of the manufacturing procedure
provided to LEPETIT that stem from shortcomings in its analysis of the risks
involved in the said procedure or in the information it has given to LEPETIT.

ARTICLE 6—SUPPLY OF TECHNOLOGY AND RAW MATERIALS NECESSARY FOR THE MANUFACTURING

        BIOSEARCH shall be obliged to supply LEPETIT information on the quantity
and quality of raw materials, the specifications, the control and analysis
methods and the [*] manufacturing process. At its own risk and expense BIOSEARCH
shall be obliged to supply the technology to LEPETIT at the Plant, of which a
fundamental part is the Stock of [*] necessary for the manufacturing. The
Technology supplied shall be shall be utilised by LEPETIT exclusively for the
Manufacturing.

        LEPETIT for its part undertakes to directly supply all the raw materials
necessary for the Manufacturing, acquiring them from its regular suppliers or
those agreed with BIOSEARCH. The costs of the raw materials will be charged by
LEPETIT to BIOSEARCH at the end of each Manufacturing at effective average
inventory price at the time of their use.

ARTICLE 7—CHECKS AND CONTROLS

        Without prejudice to the provisions of specific articles of this
Agreement, as regards quality control and inspection procedures the parties will
adhere to the relevant procedures used in the Plant and the methods described in
the documentation furnished by BIOSEARCH. BIOSEARCH shall be entitled to carry
out checks and inspections on the Manufacturing, which LEPETIT shall permit
provided they are performed during normal working hours on business days.

ARTICLE 8—PERMITS AND AUTHORISATIONS

        At its own risk and expense LEPETIT shall apply for the grant of
whatever authorisations are required from an environmental and safety point of
view to produce [*] in compliance with the applicable laws, rules and
regulations in force. Moreover, LEPETIT shall send the required communications
and notices concerning the production of [*], complying with the specific
obligations imposed by the applicable legislation.

ARTICLE 9—CONFIDENTIALITY

        The parties undertake to treat as secret and confidential all
information they become aware of from the other party during the performance of
this Agreement and also agree not to use such information for purposes other
than this Agreement. The parties further undertake not to disclose such
information to third parties, strictly limiting knowledge thereof to the
employees involved in performing this Agreement.

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        The following are exceptions to the foregoing prohibition:

1)information which at the time of its communication is already in the public
domain;

2)information which after being communicated will enter the public domain
following publication or for other reasons provided such is not a result of
breach of this Agreement;

3)information which a party can prove was already in its possession prior to
communication thereof by the other party and which was not obtained directly or
indirectly from that other party;

4)information received from third parties provided such third parties have not
directly or indirectly received it by virtue of a secrecy agreement.

ARTICLE 10—CONSERVATION OF THE STOCK AND THE [*]

10.1Without charging any additional fees therefor LEPETIT shall arrange to store
and maintain custody of the Stock and the [*] produced and LEPETIT also
undertakes to move it in conformity with BIOSEARCH's instructions. LEPETIT
further undertakes to comply with all of the accounting and administrative
formalities in connection with such storage and movement.

10.2The Stock and the [*] stored in LEPETIT premises shall belong to BIOSEARCH
and be considered as such by LEPETIT. LEPETIT will arrange for proper
conservation of the Stock and the [*] in accordance with instructions to be
agreed.

10.3The Stock and the [*] shall be insured by LEPETIT with a leading insurance
company against all risks in connection with its storage including theft, fire
and robbery.

ARTICLE 11—ORDERS

11.1    Orders    

With effect from the commencement date of this Agreement, BIOSEARCH shall send
LEPETIT orders for the [*] to be produced and delivered by LEPETIT during the
subsequent [*] period subject to availability of the production procedure and
the Equipment. In order to ensure optimal planning of production, the orders
shall be communicated within the [*]. The delivery dates will be agreed between
the parties. The quantity to be ordered by BIOSEARCH will be agreed from time to
time taking account of the jointly agreed production yield.

11.2    Execution of the Orders    

LEPETIT shall execute the orders on the agreed delivery dates. The [*] produced
as a result of this Agreement shall be sent by LEPETIT in accordance with the
instructions given by BIOSEARCH for each order. Any delays in delivering the [*]
owing to transportation problems may not in any way be imputed to LEPETIT. As
soon as manufacturing of the ordered quantity has been completed, LEPETIT will
immediately notify BIOSEARCH accordingly.

11.3    Forecast Volumes    

Over the next [*] BIOSEARCH envisages that it will require the quantities set
forth in Exhibit A hereto. In any event BIOSEARCH will give notice of [*] (+/-
[*]) or timing with respect to what is currently indicated in Exhibit A.

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ARTICLE 12—MANUFACTURING FEES AND PAYMENT TERMS

12.1Apart from the costs of the raw materials that will be specifically charged
to BIOSEARCH and be the object of separate invoicing by LEPETIT, the fee for the
Manufacturing that is the subject matter of this Agreement shall be determined
as follows:

for every single Manufacturing corresponding to an entire batch of industrial
[*] of [*] of total volume and about [*] of useful volume (save for any
technical variations owing to the normal carrying out of the [*] process) as
well as all the activities necessary for the [*], BIOSEARCH shall pay LEPETIT
the sum of ITL. [*] ([*]) plus VAT ex-Plant. Such prices will at the end of each
year be revised in accordance with variations in the ISTAT index or other index
that will be introduced at the effective changeover to the EURO.

12.2In the event of significant variations in the productivity and/or yield of
the Manufacturing the parties agree to renegotiate in good faith the fee under
the preceding paragraph. Should the parties fail to reach agreement on the new
fee, LEPETIT shall be entitled to withdraw from this Agreement subject to giving
adequate notice.

12.3Payment of the sums under the preceding Article 12.1 shall by made by
BIOSEARCH by wire transfer within [*] from the end of the month in which the
invoice is issued.

ARTICLE 13—TERM

13.1This Agreement shall take effect from 1 January 1999 and run for a term of
[*] from such date

13.2Upon [*] of the [*], this [*]will [*] for [*].

13.3This Agreement may be terminated immediately by either of the parties
without any notice period and subject to communicating the termination by
registered letter (with advice of receipt) in the event that the other party
breaches any one of its obligations and fails to remedy the breach with [*] of
being requested to do by the non-defaulting party.

13.4BIOSEARCH shall have the right to withdraw from this Agreement subject to
giving at least [*] prior written notice in the event that one of its production
units becomes available provided it that notifies LEPETIT of such in writing by
registered post (with advice of receipt). No indemnity shall be due to LEPETIT
in such case.

13.5LEPETIT shall have the right to withdraw from this Agreement subject to
giving at least [*] prior written notice, without incurring any penalty or
having to pay any compensation or indemnity to BIOSEARCH, in the event of the
further unavailability of its plants necessary for the production of its own
products.

ARTICLE 14—ASSIGNMENT

        This Agreement may in no case be assigned or transferred by either party
in whole or in part to third parties without the prior written consent of the
other party. LEPETIT shall have the right to assign this Agreement to other
companies of the Hoechst Marion Roussel Group in Italy or other future group it
will belong to subject to giving BIOSEARCH written notice thereof. BIOSEARCH
shall have the right to assign this Agreement to one of its production companies
subject to giving LEPETIT written notice thereof.

ARTICLE 15—DISPUTES

        The Courts of Milan shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute
that may arise between the parties in relation to the interpretation and/or
performance of the provisions of this Agreement.

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ARTICLE 16—CONTRACTUAL EXPENSES AND TAXATION

        The parties declare that the goods and services contemplated by this
Agreement are subject to VAT and thus this Agreement will be registered at a
fixed tax.

Lainate, 8 March 1999

Gruppo Lepetit S.p.A.                        Biosearch Italia S.p.A.

Quantities of [*] forecast for the duration of this Agreement

from 1999 [*]

YEAR

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  KG

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[*]    

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Exhibit 10.6.2