Cytokinetics, GSK begin Phase I trial for tumor treatment

GSK-923295 is a small-molecule inhibitor of centromere-associated protein E (CENP-E). As reported at the 2007 annual meeting of the American association for cancer research (AACR), GSK-923295 demonstrated a broad spectrum of activity against a range of human tumor xenografts grown in nude mice, including models of colon, breast, ovarian, lung and other tumors.

The initiation of this clinical trial triggers a milestone payment of $1 million from GSK to Cytokinetics under the terms of the companies’ strategic alliance established in June 2001.

This Phase I clinical trial is an open-label, non-randomized, dose-finding trial designed to investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of GSK-923295 in patients with advanced solid tumors. GSK-923295 is the third novel drug candidate to arise from Cytokinetics’ strategic alliance with GSK.

“This drug candidate, along with others we are developing for the potential treatment of cancer and heart failure, demonstrates the productivity of Cytokinetics’ research activities which have now generated four novel drug candidates moving towards proof-of-concept in multiple therapeutic indications,” said Robert Blum, Cytokinetics’ president and CEO.