Synta has earned a total of $130 million in payments from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to date, including the $80 million upfront payment in 2007, $40 million for milestones achieved in 2008 and the $10 million announced earlier for the achievement of a melanoma-related operational milestone.
Elesclomol is an investigational oxidative stress inducer that triggers apoptosis in cancer cells. A pivotal Phase III clinical trial of elesclomol in combination with paclitaxel in patients with stage IV metastatic melanoma (Symmetry trial) has completed enrollment; a Phase I/II trial in hormone-refractory prostate cancer, in combination with docetaxel, is ongoing.
Synta and GSK have previously entered into a collaboration agreement for elesclomol. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will jointly develop and commercialize elesclomol in the US and GSK will have exclusive responsibility for development and commercialization of elesclomol outside the US. Synta is responsible for the Symmetry Phase III melanoma study and the filing of the new drug application with the FDA.
Synta and GSK are working closely together to further the clinical development of elesclomol as well as prepare for the manufacture and commercial launch of elesclomol.