Cytokinetics, GSK Amend Protein Pact

Cytokinetics, Inc. has amended its collaboration and license agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), under which Cytokinetics will assume responsibility for the costs of continued development of the kinesin spindle protein (KSP) inhibitors ispinesib (SB-715992) and SB-743921, subject to GSK’s option to resume responsibility for some or all development and commercialization activities associated with each of these novel drug candidates.

Under the revised terms of the agreement, Cytokinetics will develop a program for ispinesib designed to supplement Phase I and Phase II trials sponsored by GSK that have shown promise in the treatment of metastatic breast and lung cancers and that have shown a tolerability profile for ispinesib in combination with standard chemotherapeutics. Cytokinetics plans to conduct trials in breast cancer patients in 2007. This program would be designed to further define the clinical activity profile of ispinesib in advanced breast cancer in preparation for a Phase III trial of ispinesib for the second-line treatment of advanced breast cancer. Currently, The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is conducting Phase II and Phase I trials with ispinesib and Cytokinetics is conducting a Phase I/II trial of SB-743921 in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL).

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to sponsor additional activities focused to advancing ispinesib as a potential next-generation approach for the treatment of breast cancer alongside our ongoing clinical trial now underway with SB-743921,” stated James H. Sabry, M.D., Ph.D., Cytokinetics’ chief executive officer. “We believe that the clinical trials data generated by GSK, alongside data arising from NCI sponsored trials, should serve as a foundation for a focused and cost effective development program going forward.”