Genentech, Inotek to collaborate on cancer treatment based on poly polymerase inhibitors

By Lisa Kerner

Charlotte, N.C., July 25 - Genentech, Inc. and Inotek Pharmaceuticals Corp. will collaborate to discover, develop, manufacture and commercialize inhibitors of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) for the treatment of cancer, according to a company news release.

Under the terms of the companies' agreement, Genentech will make an upfront payment of $20 million to Inotek, plus possible additional milestone payments up to a total of $405 million.

The company will also pay royalties to Inotek based on the net amount of any sales of Inotek's lead PARP Inhibitor, INO-1001, or other next-generation PARP inhibitors in the field of cancer.

In addition, Genentech will provide funding to use Inotek's small molecule chemistry expertise and fund future clinical development costs of INO-1001 and subsequent PARP inhibitors in cancer.

Genentech retains an option to develop and commercialize Inotek's PARP inhibitors to prevent cell death and complications associated with various acute cardiovascular conditions. If exercised by Genentech, the option could be worth as much as $200 million in additional payments to Inotek.

Inotek has retained an option to co-promote PARP inhibitors in the acute cardiovascular field in the United States with Genentech.

The company has also has retained all rights to develop and commercialize PARP inhibitors outside of cancer and the specific acute cardiovascular diseases included in Genentech's option.

"We are looking forward to working together with Inotek, a leader in the field of PARP inhibition, to pursue products that may make an impact in the treatment of patients with serious diseases including cancer," Genentech's chief medical officer Hal Barron said in a company news release.

"PARP inhibition represents an exciting field of biology and we are intrigued by the potential of this novel mechanism to address unmet medical needs in oncology and acute cardiovascular conditions."

PARP, a nuclear enzyme within cells, directs the repair of damaged DNA.

Inotek is a private, development-stage pharmaceutical company located in Beverly, Mass.

Genentech is a biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, Calif.

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