Infinity Announces Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitor Agreement With AstraZeneca
[Unfortunately, the hedgehogs are walking in the wrong direction]
Infinity Regains Full Rights to IPI-926 and Receives Opt-In Rights to AstraZeneca Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitor Programs
[As always, the receiving company feels they have scored big-time]
``We are delighted to reacquire full rights to our Hedgehog program, and to secure opt-in rights to AstraZeneca's programs in the Hedgehog pathway,'' said Adelene Q. Perkins, executive vice president and chief business officer, Infinity. ``Regaining 100 percent ownership in our program immediately enhances the value of Infinity's pipeline and provides us with strategic options for the future development of IPI-926 while minimally affecting our cash runway.''
[Also the Magician himself, Mr Adams of bortezomib fame, is very happy about what AstraZenica doesn't want to work on anymore]
``I am tremendously enthusiastic about the preclinical data emerging on IPI-926, our lead Hedgehog candidate, including potent and selective inhibition of the pathway, oral bioavailability, and an extended half-life,'' added Julian Adams, Ph.D., Infinity's chief scientific officer. ``We believe the Hedgehog pathway plays a critical role in some of the most aggressive cancers for which there are few treatment options.'' Infinity expects to share preclinical data from a number of in vivo models at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in early 2008 and anticipates commencing human clinical trials with IPI-926 in 2008.
[As for Curis, they have all but stopped talking about the hedgehogs, instead concentrating on their almost conventional small molecule assets] |
