Tesaro And MD Anderson Cancer Center Announce Immuno-Oncology Collaboration And Exclusive License Agreement
• Goal to identify novel small molecule therapeutics against undisclosed immuno-oncology targets
• Partnership complements TESARO's existing immuno-oncology pipeline
• Goal to identify first clinical candidate in early 2017
WALTHAM, Mass. and HOUSTON, March 29, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TESARO, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSRO), an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company, and the Institute for Applied Cancer Science at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced an exclusive collaboration to discover and develop small molecule product candidates against undisclosed immuno-oncology targets. This collaboration leverages MD Anderson's expertise in drug discovery and translational medicine and TESARO's oncology drug development and commercialization capabilities.
MD Anderson's Institute for Applied Cancer Science (IACS) is a fully integrated drug discovery and development group that aims to transform cancer care through the discovery and deployment of impactful new drugs to eliminate cancer. The TESARO collaboration is IACS's first to specifically focus on small molecule drug discovery.
"We are excited to be partnering with the exceptional group of drug hunters at MD Anderson's IACS to identify drug candidates against targets we collectively believe will build upon the recognized promise of immuno-oncology for patients living with cancer," said Mary Lynne Hedley, Ph.D., President and COO of TESARO. "We intend for this partnership to expand and complement TESARO's existing portfolio of immuno-oncology programs and we continue to believe that immuno-oncology will transform our approach to cancer therapy."
Under terms of the agreement, TESARO will receive exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize any small molecule product candidates that result from this collaboration. MD Anderson will be responsible for conducting research activities aimed at identifying clinical candidates with defined characteristics targeting certain immuno-oncology targets. TESARO will fund research, development, and commercialization expenses for this collaboration. Additional terms of this agreement were not disclosed.
"This synergistic partnership provides an opportunity to fast-track novel immune-modulating therapies towards our cancer patients," said Phil Jones, Ph.D., Executive Director and Head of the IACS platform. "This alliance is optimally aligned with IACS' mission to rapidly advance impactful therapies into clinical practice."
About MD Anderson
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institution's sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world. MD Anderson is one of only 45 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). MD Anderson is ranked No. 1 for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals" survey. It has ranked as one of the nation's top two hospitals since the survey began in 1990, and has ranked first for 11 of the past 14 years. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672).
In 2012, MD Anderson announced its Moon Shots Program, an ambitious and comprehensive action plan to make a giant leap forward in cancer patient care, which was inspired by America's drive a generation ago to put a man on the moon. IACS is one of 10 platforms supporting the Moon Shots Program. Like a biotech company embedded in a comprehensive cancer center, the drug discovery experts at IACS connect with basic scientists, clinical researchers, and strategic partners to develop novel drugs for cancer patients, employing a Bench at BedsideTM approach to shorten the drug development timeline.
About TESARO
TESARO is an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company devoted to providing transformative therapies to people bravely facing cancer. For more information, visit www.tesarobio.com.
• Partnership complements TESARO's existing immuno-oncology pipeline
• Goal to identify first clinical candidate in early 2017
WALTHAM, Mass. and HOUSTON, March 29, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TESARO, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSRO), an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company, and the Institute for Applied Cancer Science at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced an exclusive collaboration to discover and develop small molecule product candidates against undisclosed immuno-oncology targets. This collaboration leverages MD Anderson's expertise in drug discovery and translational medicine and TESARO's oncology drug development and commercialization capabilities.
MD Anderson's Institute for Applied Cancer Science (IACS) is a fully integrated drug discovery and development group that aims to transform cancer care through the discovery and deployment of impactful new drugs to eliminate cancer. The TESARO collaboration is IACS's first to specifically focus on small molecule drug discovery.
"We are excited to be partnering with the exceptional group of drug hunters at MD Anderson's IACS to identify drug candidates against targets we collectively believe will build upon the recognized promise of immuno-oncology for patients living with cancer," said Mary Lynne Hedley, Ph.D., President and COO of TESARO. "We intend for this partnership to expand and complement TESARO's existing portfolio of immuno-oncology programs and we continue to believe that immuno-oncology will transform our approach to cancer therapy."
Under terms of the agreement, TESARO will receive exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize any small molecule product candidates that result from this collaboration. MD Anderson will be responsible for conducting research activities aimed at identifying clinical candidates with defined characteristics targeting certain immuno-oncology targets. TESARO will fund research, development, and commercialization expenses for this collaboration. Additional terms of this agreement were not disclosed.
"This synergistic partnership provides an opportunity to fast-track novel immune-modulating therapies towards our cancer patients," said Phil Jones, Ph.D., Executive Director and Head of the IACS platform. "This alliance is optimally aligned with IACS' mission to rapidly advance impactful therapies into clinical practice."
About MD Anderson
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institution's sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world. MD Anderson is one of only 45 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). MD Anderson is ranked No. 1 for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals" survey. It has ranked as one of the nation's top two hospitals since the survey began in 1990, and has ranked first for 11 of the past 14 years. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672).
In 2012, MD Anderson announced its Moon Shots Program, an ambitious and comprehensive action plan to make a giant leap forward in cancer patient care, which was inspired by America's drive a generation ago to put a man on the moon. IACS is one of 10 platforms supporting the Moon Shots Program. Like a biotech company embedded in a comprehensive cancer center, the drug discovery experts at IACS connect with basic scientists, clinical researchers, and strategic partners to develop novel drugs for cancer patients, employing a Bench at BedsideTM approach to shorten the drug development timeline.
About TESARO
TESARO is an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company devoted to providing transformative therapies to people bravely facing cancer. For more information, visit www.tesarobio.com.