Verastem, Eisai in Small Molecule Pact

Verastem has entered into a one-year research collaboration with Eisai for the next-generation of small molecule Wnt inhibitors. The collaboration aims to develop analogs for VS-507, a proprietary formulation of salinomycin. The resulting compounds will be tested in Verastem’s Wnt signaling and cancer stem cell assays. Verastem will own the analogs that are generated. Eisai will be eligible to receive royalties on commercial sales of identified products. During the term of the agreement, Eisai has a right of first negotiation for products that result from the collaboration.
 
“Verastem and Eisai have a shared vision for the utility of Wnt inhibitors in the treatment of cancer,” said Jonathan Pachter, Ph.D., Verastem vice president and head of Research. “Our Wnt inhibitor, VS-507, shows activity in multiple cancer stem cell models both in vitro and in human tumor xenografts. Through this collaboration with Eisai, a world leader in complex natural product chemistry, we can jointly leverage our unique capabilities to develop the next-generation of Wnt inhibitors for targeted killing of cancer stem cells.”
 
“With their particular expertise in natural product chemistry, Eisai is the perfect partner,” said Robert Forrester, Verastem chief operating officer. “We believe Wnt signaling is a critical regulator of cancer stem cells, and a combined research effort to find novel inhibitors of this pathway is of great interest to both Eisai and Verastem.”