Astellas, Ambit ending FLT3 inhibitors deal

Astellas Pharma Inc. (Tokyo:4503) and Ambit Biosciences Corp. (San Diego, Calif.) will terminate, effective Sept. 3, a 2009 deal to co-develop FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ( FLT3; CD135) inhibitors to treat acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and other undisclosed indications. Ambit will regain full rights to the FLT3 inhibitors, including lead compound quizartinib. Ambit said it will continue clinical development of the oral, small molecule FLT3 inhibitor, which is in Phase II testing to treat relapsed or refractory AML in patients with a genetic mutation in FLT3. Astellas, which could not be reached for details, exercised its option to terminate the 2009 deal for strategic reasons (see BioCentury Extra, Dec. 18, 2009). ...