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Vertex: Phase 2 program for VX-680 to treat colorectal cancer triggers $10 million milestone
By E. Janene Geiss
Philadelphia, April 5 - Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced Wednesday the start of a phase 2 clinical development program for VX-680, an investigational drug candidate targeting Aurora kinase.
In connection with the start of phase 2 development, Vertex said it earned a $10 million milestone payment in March from Merck & Co., Inc., according to a company news release.
Vertex and Merck have a global collaboration to develop and commercialize VX-680, officials said.
The beginning of phase 2 development for VX-680 is based on the enrollment of patients with advanced colorectal cancer in a phase 2 extension of a previous phase 1 clinical study, officials said.
Merck also said it expects to begin a phase 2 clinical study for VX-680 in patients with advanced lung cancer this year.
"This phase 2 study represents a continuation of our efforts to broadly assess the activity of VX-680 in a range of solid tumors and hematologic cancers," Stephen H. Friend, executive vice president of oncology at Merck, said in the release.
The trial is an open-label, non-randomized study that will enroll about 20 patients at major cancer treatment centers in the United States.
In June 2004, Vertex said it entered into a global collaboration with Merck to develop and commercialize VX-680. Along with clinical development, Vertex and Merck said they are conducting a joint research program to characterize VX-680's activity across a broad range of cancer types and have identified an additional drug candidate targeting the Aurora kinases.
Vertex is a Cambridge, Mass., biotechnology company committed to developing breakthrough small molecule drugs for serious diseases with a focus on viral diseases, inflammation, autoimmune diseases and cancer.
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