Exelixis, Sanofi end research deal for PI3K alpha, beta

Exelixis Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL) and Sanofi (Euronext:SAN; NYSE:SNY) mutually terminated a 2009 research deal to discover inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) alpha and beta. Exelixis will receive a $15.3 million payment from Sanofi for the termination of the deal, which had been slated to run for three years. The partners said they made the decision in light of Exelixis' announcement in 2010 to focus its resources and development efforts on cancer candidate cabozantinib ( XL184) (see BioCentury Extra, Dec. 2, 2010).

Sanofi retains exclusive, worldwide rights to two clinical-stage PI3K inhibitors in-licensed from Exelixis: XL147 ( SAR245408) and XL765 ( SAR245409). The compounds are in development for cancer, with XL147 in Phase II testing and XL765 in Phase Ib/II testing. XL765 is also an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin ( mTOR, FRAP, RAFT1) (see BioCentury Extra, May 28, 2009). ...