Abbott, Genentech Enter Onco-R&D Pact

Abbott and Genentech have formed a collaboration for the global research, development and commercialization of two of Abbott’s investigational anti-cancer compounds, ABT-263 and ABT-869. The companies will share further development and commercialization of the compounds. They will co-promote any resulting products in the U.S., while Abbott will promote any resulting products outside the U.S. Financial terms were not disclosed.

These compounds represent promising scientific approaches to treating cancer. ABT-263, a Bcl-2 family protein antagonist, restores apoptosis — a natural process by which damaged or unwanted cells die and are cleared from the body — in a variety of cancer cells. ABT-869, a VEGFR-based multi-targeted kinase inhibitor, suppresses tumor growth by preventing the growth of new blood vessels that supply the tumor with oxygen and nutrients and by inhibiting key angiogenic signaling pathways. Both compounds are currently in Phase I trials in several tumor types. Phase II trials for ABT-869 will begin this year.

“We hope that the combination of Abbott’s scientific discoveries and Genentech’s proven experience in the oncology arena can help bring these promising anti-cancer compounds to patients,” said John Leonard, M.D., vice president, global pharmaceutical R&D, Abbott. “It takes significant resources to discover and develop new medicines. We believe that our collaboration with Genentech, in addition to our pipeline of other cutting-edge scientific approaches to fighting cancer, will allow Abbott to build a world-class oncology franchise.”

“We are very pleased to be entering into this collaboration with Abbott for the development of therapies that may offer new options to treat patients with cancer,” said Hal Barron, M.D., senior vice president, development and chief medical officer for Genentech. “We believe that these molecules are strong complements to our existing anti-angiogenesis and apoptosis research and development programs and have the potential to broaden our pipeline with important, innovative compounds.”