Infinity and AstraZeneca sign hedgehog pathway inhibitor agreement

Infinity will also have the right to opt-in to certain Hedgehog programs being developed by AstraZeneca, including worldwide profit sharing and US co-promotion rights. In exchange for these rights, Infinity will waive the non-competition clause contained in its August 2006 collaboration agreement with MedImmune applicable to AstraZeneca’s independent work in the Hedgehog pathway.

MedImmune will continue to fund its 50% share of development activities for its lead candidate, IPI-926, through May 2008. After that date, Infinity will own 100% of the rights to its Hedgehog pathway program, including IPI-926, on a royalty-free basis. AstraZeneca will continue to conduct independent discovery efforts in the Hedgehog field subject to Infinity’s option, at defined milestones up to the initiation of Phase III studies, to participate in existing and certain future Hedgehog pathway inhibitor programs.

If Infinity elects to opt-in to one or more of these programs, Infinity will have rights substantially similar to those in the existing MedImmune collaboration agreement, including worldwide profit sharing and US co-promotion rights. Other financial terms have not been disclosed.

The Hedgehog cell-signaling pathway is normally active during embryonic development in regulating tissue and organ formation. When abnormally activated in adults, however, the Hedgehog pathway is believed to play a central role in allowing the proliferation and survival of certain cancer-causing cells, including in certain deadly cancers such as pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, small cell lung cancer, breast cancer and certain brain cancers.