Glaxo leaves Exelixis drugs behind as pact ends

Exelixis' six-year collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline has come to the end of the line with Glaxo deciding to bow out without licensing any of the drugs in the program. Exelixis retains the rights subject to a three percent royalty payment on any product that includes XL184, which is beginning a late-stage trial for medullary thyroid cancer. Exelixis says it has had some inquiries on the programs and is exploring its options.

GSK will continue development and commercialization of XL880, a compound developed under the collaboration and previously in-licensed by GSK, with potential additional milestone payments of up to $90 million and double-digit royalty payments to Exelixis on XL880's successful development and commercialization.

"We are pleased to retain the rights to develop and commercialize XL184," said George A. Scangos, PhD, president and CEO of Exelixis. "This compound is our most advanced asset with a promising mechanism of action. It has generated compelling data in patients with medullary thyroid cancer, and data emerging from the phase 2 trial being conducted in patients with glioblastoma also are encouraging. We recently initiated a phase 3 registration trial for XL184 in MTC, and we look forward to the successful progress of this and other trials for the compound."

- read the Exelixis' release

ALSO: Exelixis today reported positive preliminary phase I data from a dose-escalation trial of XL281 in patients with advanced solid malignancies. Release

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