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SGX, Roche Partner To Use FAST To Discover Antivirals
By Karen Pihl-Carey
Staff Writer
Entering the first major pharmaceutical deal for its
Fragments of Active Structures drug discovery technology, Structural
GenomiX formed an alliance with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. to discover new
antiviral therapeutics.
Structural GenomiX (SGX) will be responsible for discovering
small-molecule inhibitors that Roche will develop and commercialize on a
worldwide basis.
"This really represents an important milestone for us in
terms of demonstrating the viability of our fragment-based lead-generation
technology, which we call FAST," said Stephen Burley, chief scientific
officer for San Diego-based SGX.
In return for use of the FAST technology, SGX will receive
an up-front payment, research funding and milestone payments as product
candidates advance through development. The agreement also includes
potential royalties on product sales.
While the deal with Roche is the first of its kind for SGX
with a major pharmaceutical partner, it is the second deal involving FAST,
following one signed in March with Geneva-based Serono SA. That deal was
worth up to $68 million in up-front, research and clinical development
milestone payments. SGX is using FAST to generate lead compounds for
Serono's selected kinase and phosphatase targets in an undisclosed
therapeutic area. (See BioWorld Today, March 24, 2004.)
Burley declined to say whether the alliance with Roche was
along the same financial lines as the deal with Serono. But he did point
out that since SGX began working on FAST about two years ago, it has built
value into the technology.
"As we've added value to FAST and have also demonstrated the
viability of FAST, we've been able to improve the economics of both this
deal and other deals that we've been discussing," Burley told BioWorld
Today.
FAST identifies novel, potent and selective small-molecule
inhibitors of drug targets within a six-month time frame. The process
involves crystallographic screening of lead-like drug fragments. By
determining the co-crystal structures, researchers can determine in atomic
detail how small molecules interact with drug targets.
SGX is using the technology for its internal programs in
cancer.
"FAST is generating advanced lead compounds on high-value
oncology targets for which SGX has crystal structure," Burley said.
The company also is working on its lead product, Troxatyl,
which it licensed from Laval, Quebec-based Shire BioChem Inc. in July. SGX
acquired worldwide rights to the product, which is in early trials for
acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and pancreatic cancer. (See BioWorld
Today, July 30, 2004.)
Troxatyl is a non-natural nucleoside analogue that acts as a
DNA-chain terminator during DNA replication in rapidly dividing cells. It
avoids the drug metabolism and resistance associated with natural
nucleoside analogues. SGX intends to complete the Phase I trial in AML in
the next few months and start a Phase II proof-of-principle trial in early
2005. The Phase II trial should be completed by the end of that year, and
the company will decide whether to expand the scope of the trial to seek
early approval.
"That decision is going to depend on the results that we get
in the first 50 or so patients," Burley said.
SGX also is developing at the preclinical stage compounds
for Gleevec-resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Gleevec is
marketed by Novartis AG, of Basel, Switzerland. Burley said the company's
goal is to file an investigational new drug application by the end of
2005.
An IND filing for the company's third pipeline product in
collaboration with UroGene SA, of Evry, France, could occur in the middle
of 2006. That program is focused on kinase targets for urological and
colon cancers.
About two and a half years ago, SGX changed its business
model from a database company to one focused on drug discovery and
development.
"With the integration of Troxatyl, the CML program, our
solid-tumor kinase program, and FAST, we've taken an important step in
building the necessary infrastructure for evolution of SGX into a drug
discovery and development company that is focused on oncology," Burley
said.
Published September 10, 2004
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