Monday, February 9, 2009

Curis collaborates with Genentech, NCI on brain cancer drug

By Marc Songini

Cancer treatment company Curis Inc. is entering into a research deal with Genentech Inc. and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for the development and testing of a Hedgehog antagonist drug.

The Cambridge-based Curis (Nasdaq: CRIS) said that its current collaborator, San Francisco biotech giant Genentech, and the NCI’s Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis will be cooperating on developing and testing Curis’ compound GDC-0449. This is an orally-administered small molecule drug that targets the Hedgehog protein pathway to inhibit the progression of cancer.

Currently, Genentech already has a broad GDC-0449 Phase 2 clinical program, which includes  trials in colorectal cancer, advanced ovarian cancer and advanced basal cell carcinoma. Curis claimed in a statement this agreement will enable researchers to create additional data in tumor types not being investigated by Genentech.

To that end, an NCI-sponsored Phase 1 clinical trial is expected to start to evaluate GDC-0449 in pediatric patients with medulloblastoma — a rare but highly malignant brain tumor that typically affects children. In addition to this Phase 1 medulloblastoma clinical trial, the NCI will sponsor additional clinical trials in patients with small cell lung and pancreatic cancers.

Curis has already provided Genentech broad intellectual property rights around the Hedgehog pathway, including several types of proprietary small molecule inhibitors. Genentech discovered GDC-0449 through this collaboration. Curis is eligible to receive cash payments upon the successful achievement of clinical and regulatory milestones; however, it will not be eligible for cash payments for the start of the NCI clinical trials.