Kinex Pharmaceuticals, PharmaEssentia deal
Kinex granted PharmaEssentia exclusive development and commercialization rights to cancer candidates Oraxol and Oratecan in Taiwan and Singapore. Kinex will receive an undisclosed upfront payment and be eligible for undisclosed milestones and royalties. PharmaEssentia said it will begin clinical trials in Taiwan "very soon." Oraxol - an oral formulation of paclitaxel and HM30181A, a P glycoprotein ( MDR1; ABCB1; P-gp; CD243) inhibitor - is in Phase II testing to treat gastric cancer in Korea and Phase Ib testing to treat advanced malignancies in the U.S. Oratecan - oral irinotecan plus HM30181A - has completed a Phase I trial to treat colon cancer in Korea. PharmaEssentia said it hopes to launch the products in two to three years. The companies declined to disclose financial terms. ...