LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: SNTA - News), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing small molecule drugs to treat severe medical conditions, today announced that it has achieved an operational milestone triggering a $10 million payment from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) under its collaboration agreement for the development and commercialization of elesclomol.
Elesclomol is an investigational first-in-class oxidative stress inducer that triggers apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells. Elesclomol is currently being studied in combination with paclitaxel in a Phase 3 clinical trial (SYMMETRY(SM)) in metastatic melanoma which completed enrollment earlier this month. Elesclomol is not yet approved for any indication in any market.
Synta has earned a total of $130 million in payments from GSK to date, including the $80 million upfront payment in 2007, $40 million for milestones achieved in 2008 and the $10 million announced today for the achievement of a melanoma-related operational milestone. Under the collaboration agreement with GSK, Synta is eligible for a total of $585 million in pre-commercial milestone payments, of which $50 million have been paid to date, $100 million are related to additional progress in melanoma, and the remainder is related to progress in other cancer indications. In additional to the pre-commercial milestone payments, Synta is eligible for $300 million in sales milestones, 40-50% share of operating profits in the United States, and double-digit royalties on sales outside the United States.
About Elesclomol
Elesclomol is an investigational first-in-class oxidative stress inducer that triggers apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells. Cancer cells operate at high levels of reactive oxygen species, or oxidative stress. Elesclomol acts by increasing the level of oxidative stress in cancer cells even further, beyond sustainable levels, inducing apoptosis. This mechanism of action, called oxidative stress induction, represents a novel way of selectively targeting and killing cancer cells.
In a double-blind, randomized, controlled Phase 2b clinical trial in 81 patients with stage IV metastatic melanoma, elesclomol in combination with paclitaxel met the primary endpoint, doubling the median time patients survived without their disease progressing, compared to paclitaxel alone (p = 0.035). The most common adverse events in the elesclomol plus paclitaxel group included fatigue, alopecia, constipation, nausea, hypoaesthesia, arthralgia, insomnia, diarrhea, and anemia.
A pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of elesclomol in combination with paclitaxel in patients with stage IV metastatic melanoma (the SYMMETRY trial) has completed enrollment; a Phase 1/2 trial in hormone-refractory prostate cancer, in combination with docetaxel, is ongoing. A Phase 1 monotherapy trial in solid tumors was recently initiated and Phase 2 trials in other indications, and in combination with other agents, are planned.
Collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline
In Oct
ober 2007, Synta and GSK entered into a collaboration agreement for elesclomol. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will jointly develop and commercialize elesclomol in the U.S. and GSK will have exclusive responsibility for development and commercialization of elesclomol outside the U.S. Synta is responsible for the SYMMETRY Phase 3 melanoma study and the filing of the New Drug Application with the FDA.
Synta and GSK are working closely together to further the clinical development of elesclomol as well as prepare for the manufacture and commercial launch of elesclomol.
About Synta Pharmaceuticals
Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing small molecule drugs to extend and enhance the lives of patients with severe medical conditions, including cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. Synta has a unique chemical compound library, an integrated discovery engine, and a diverse pipeline of clinical- and preclinical-stage drug candidates with distinct mechanisms of action and novel chemical structures. All Synta drug candidates were invented by Synta scientists using our compound library and discovery capabilities. For more information, please visit www.syntapharma.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This media release may contain forward-looking statements about Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. Such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “may,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “projects,” or similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements, including statements relating to the timing and progress of our clinical and preclinical programs, and the timing and amounts of milestone payments under our agreement with GSK, reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including those described in “Risk Factors” of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Synta undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Contact:
Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. Rob Kloppenburg, 781-541-7125 or MacDougall Biomedical Communications Doug MacDougall, 781-235-3060
