Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany, and OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced a global strategic alliance to discover, develop and commercialize novel anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics targeting the Wnt signaling pathway. Cancer stem cells are a subset of tumor cells believed to play a significant role in the establishment, metastasis and recurrence of cancer and agents targeting the Wnt pathway have the potential to be developed as pan-tumor drugs.The strategic alliance provides Bayer Schering Pharma with the option to exclusively license antibody and protein therapeutic product candidates at any point up to the completion of Phase I testing. In addition, Bayer and OncoMed will share technology and know-how to discover and develop small molecule inhibitors of the pathway.
“Our alliance with Bayer represents a major opportunity to discover and develop an entirely new class of anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics with one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the world. Bayer shares our vision for the potential of anti-
Collaboration Focuses on the Discovery and Development of Multiple Antibody, Protein and Small Molecule Agents Targeting the Wnt Pathway
cancer stem cell therapeutics, and we look forward to working closely with them,” said Paul J. Hastings, President and CEO of OncoMed. “OncoMed has established a rich pipeline of product candidates targeting a number of critical cancer stem cell pathways. Through this collaboration, we will gain significant additional funding to support the discovery and development of therapeutics targeting the Wnt pathway, as we continue, with our already strong cash position, and our other sources of collaborative revenue to fully finance and advance all of our programs for years to come.”OncoMed will utilize its proprietary human cancer stem cell models to discover and advance three potential first-in-class antibody and protein therapeutics into clinical testing and through Phase I studies. Bayer Schering Pharma receives an option to exclusively license antibody and protein therapeutic product candidates at any point up to the completion of Phase I testing. Following option exercise, Bayer will lead development and commercialization of licensed product candidates and will have rights to commercialize approved products in all markets. OncoMed will be eligible to receive double-digit royalties on net product sales. The agreement contains provisions under which OncoMed may co-develop biologic therapeutics with Bayer. The collaboration includes for example OncoMed’s lead Wnt pathway antibody, [OMP-18R5], which is intended to enter clinical testing in 2011.
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