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Vertex Pharmaceuticals Announces that VX-680 Demonstrates Effect on Clinically Relevant Biomarker in Phase I Cancer Study
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Announces that VX-680 Demonstrates Effect on Clinically Relevant Biomarker in Phase I Cancer Study.
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[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\n\n- Company achieves two milestones in broad collaboration with Merck to develop\n VX-680 and Aurora kinase inhibitors -\n\nCAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 7 /CNW/ -- Vertex Pharmaceuticals\nIncorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced clinical and research progress in\nits worldwide collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc. to develop Aurora kinase\ninhibitors for the treatment of cancer. In a Phase I clinical study in\npatients with solid tumor cancers, dosing with VX-680 (MK-0457) demonstrated\nactivity on a clinically relevant biomarker, triggering achievement of a\nmilestone under the contract. VX-680 is a small molecule inhibitor of Aurora\nkinases and the lead development compound in the collaboration. In addition,\nMerck has selected a follow-on compound for development from a joint Aurora\nkinase research program that is part of the collaboration.\nIn conjunction with this progress, Vertex will receive two milestone\npayments from Merck totaling $19.5 million. Vertex expects to recognize\nrevenue of approximately $7.0 million of the $19.5 million in milestone\npayments in the fourth quarter of 2005, and the balance in 2006.\n\"We are pleased with our progress in the research and development of\nAurora kinase inhibitors, which may represent an exciting new approach to the\ntreatment of cancer,\" said Stephen H. Friend, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Vice\nPresident, Advanced Technology & Oncology at Merck Research Laboratories. \"We\ninitiated a number of clinical trials for VX-680 in 2005, and the biomarker\nactivity observed in the Phase I trial in solid tumors is encouraging. We\nlook forward to continued progress in the coming year's program as we look to\nfurther define the clinical activity of VX-680 in several potential oncology\nindications.\"\n\"The rapid achievement of these milestones is an important part of our\ngoals for the VX-680 program and in realizing our 2005 corporate objectives,\"\nsaid Joshua Boger, Ph.D., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of\nVertex Pharmaceuticals. \"Working together with Merck, we have successfully\nexecuted on all key clinical and research activities in the program this year.\nThe progress announced today affirms our view that VX-680 and Aurora kinase\ninhibitors have the potential to play an important role in cancer therapy.\"\n\nVX-680 Clinical Studies\nMerck is present...