Curis said that Ortho Biotech will cease its development efforts on the BMP-7 program and the agreement will now terminate on August 16, 2007. Daniel Passeri, president and CEO of Curis, said: “We have been concerned with the rate of research progress of our BMP-7 assets since the license agreement was completed in November 2002.
“While we are disappointed that Ortho Biotech Products has elected to terminate the license, we continue to believe that there is significant published preclinical evidence that supports the potential of BMP-7 as a possible therapy for kidney disease and the related diseases including vascular calcification and renal osteodystrophy.
“Based on the robust preclinical scientific data and our belief that there is strong patient demand, we plan to immediately begin contacting potentially interested parties for licensure of this program.”
Curis said that while seeking to re-license its BMP-7 technologies, the company also plans to continue with its programs in cancer, cardiovascular disease and stroke.