The strategic alliance, initiated in June 2001, included an initial five-year research term and has been extended on two prior occasions, in each case with the objective to conduct joint research directed towards centromere-associated protein (CENP-E).
The companies have agreed again to extend the research program for an additional year, during which each company, at its own expense, will continue to perform translational research directed towards CENP-E in accordance with an agreed plan.
GSK-923295, a CENP-E inhibitor which arose from joint research between Cytokinetics and GlaxoSmithKline under the strategic alliance, is currently in a Phase I clinical trial under GSK’s sponsorship.
David Morgans, Jr, executive vice president of preclinical research and development at Cytokinetics, said: “We look forward to continuing these joint activities which are intended to broaden our knowledge base around CENP-E and lend support to Phase II clinical development planning activities relating to GSK-923295.”