MedImmune, Infinity Sign Cancer Pact

MedImmune and Infinity Pharmaceuticals have entered into an agreement to jointly develop and commercialize novel small molecule cancer drugs targeting Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90) and the Hedgehog cell-signaling pathway. In preclinical studies, Hsp90 and the Hedgehog pathway appear to be implicated in the growth and survival of a broad range of blood-related and solid tumor types. IPI-504, the most advanced of the drug candidates included in the agreement, is an Hsp90 inhibitor that has thus far been studied in two disease-focused Phase I trials.

MedImmune and Infinity will share equally all costs and profits from the development and commercialization of any future products. MedImmune will provide Infinity a one-time upfront payment of $70 million for co-exclusive, shared rights to the Hsp90 and Hedgehog pathway product development programs. In addition, Infinity could receive as much as $430 million more in milestone payments related to the companies’ achieving certain late-stage clinical development and sales targets for any future products resulting from the collaboration.

“Hsp90 and Hedgehog are among the most attractive targeted therapy opportunities in cancer research today, and the Infinity programs have a very strong competitive position,” said Edward T. Mathers, MedImmune’s executive vice president, corporate development and venture. “With IPI-504, we have a promising drug candidate with already-established preclinical in vivo proof of concept and the potential to reach the market by 2010. In collaboration with Infinity, we plan to accelerate development of the intravenous formulation of IPI-504, as well as to expand into additional tumor types. In addition, we expect to be able to commence clinical testing of the next generation oral formulation of IPI-504, as well as an oral formulation of a hedgehog inhibitor within the next 12 to 18 months.”

For each of the programs, Infinity will retain primary responsibility for discovery, preclinical development and translational clinical development of products through proof-of-concept in humans. The companies will jointly conduct clinical development through first product approval. MedImmune will lead worldwide regulatory strategy as well as sales and marketing of resulting products; Infinity retains an option to co-promote any future products in the U.S., contributing as much as 35% of the total promotional effort.