Sunesis has received a $1.5 million milestone payment from Biogen Idec for the selection of a Raf kinase inhibitor development candidate. It is intended for the treatment of cancer.
Biogen Idec is currently conducting IND-enabling GLP preclinical work with the Raf kinase development candidate.
In August 2004, the companies entered into a collaboration to discover and develop small molecule cancer therapeutics targeting kinases.
Daniel Swisher, CEO of Sunesis, said: While our internal efforts are focused on the successful development of voreloxin, we are extremely pleased by the continued progress being made by Biogen Idec to advance a Raf kinase inhibitor toward the clinic.
Sunesis is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of new oncology therapeutics, for the treatment of solid and hematologic cancers.