Roche and Antisoma Announce Oncology Alliance

In a move that will provide the company with a significant portfolio of promising new oncology drug candidates, Roche (Basel, Switzerland) has formed a broad alliance with Antisoma PLC (London, UK). Roche will use its established development, manufacturing, and commercial capabilities to facilitate the rapid commercialization of Antisoma's promising oncology drug candidates.

Roche will pay about US$6.56 million to acquire a minority equity stake in Antisoma and will also make certain development, milestone, and royalty payments. In exchange, Roche will have rights to the oncology products currently in clinical development at Antisoma as well as those developed to the stage of human use over the next five years. Antisoma will be responsible for advancing new oncology compounds into clinical development.

Antisoma's portfolo includes an yttrium-90 labeled mouse monoclonal antibody (MAB) directed against ovarian cancer in phase III testing, a humanized MAB in phase I testing, a MAB fragment linked to yttrium-90 used in combination with radiotherapy, and a small molecule vascular targeting agent that disrupts blood flow in tumors.

"The partnership will ensure that we deploy the necessary resources and expertise to fully develop this pipeline and create yet another source of products for our growing oncology franchise,” said William M. Burns, who heads Roche's Pharmaceuticals Division.




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