Exelixis submits XL413 data package to B-MS

US drug developer Exelixis has submitted a comprehensive data report for its cancer drug candidate XL413 to partner Bristol-Myers Squibb, which now has 30 days to review the package and determine if it will select the compound for clinical development and commercialization.

If the US drug major decides to progress the selective inhibitor of Cdc7, Exelixis will be entitled to a $20.0-million milestone under a 2007 collaboration deal with Bristol-Myers Squibb to discover, develop and commercialize novel targeted therapies for cancer.

"XL413 is the second compound submitted under our current oncology discovery collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb," said Michael Morrissey, president of R&D at Exelixis. "One of our key R&D goals is to continue to expand our pipeline with compounds focused on key pathways and targets that play important roles in cancer. XL413 selectively targets Cdc7, which is a very exciting cancer-related target. To our knowledge, no other selective inhibitors of Cdc7 have advanced to this stage of preclinical development, giving XL413 first-in-class potential," he added.