Sierra Oncology, Inc., a clinical stage drug development company focused on advancing targeted therapeutics for the treatment of patients with significant unmet needs in hematology and oncology, today announced it has acquired the drug candidate momelotinib from Gilead Sciences.
Momelotinib has been investigated in two completed Phase 3 trials for the treatment of myelofibrosis and has demonstrated a potentially differentiated therapeutic profile encompassing anemia-related benefits, as well as achieving substantive spleen and constitutional symptom control.
“The majority of myelofibrosis patients have anemia at diagnosis or develop it during treatment with other therapies, including ruxolitinib,” said Dr. Srdan Verstovsek, medical oncologist and professor in the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. “Anemia is the most significant negative prognostic indicator in myelofibrosis patients and, as a result, one of the most important disease consequences to address.
“The therapeutic focus in myelofibrosis has traditionally been on treating the enlarged spleen and constitutional symptoms common to the disease,” Verstovsek added. “However, optimal drug therapy would also address disease-related cytopenias, including anemia and transfusion dependency, while also improving splenomegaly and symptoms. The Phase 3 clinical data for momelotinib demonstrate clinical benefits in all of these categories and I believe the drug candidate warrants further development. Given its anemia benefit, momelotinib could potentially become an important option for the treatment of myelofibrosis.”
Deal Terms
Sierra will pay Gilead a $3 million upfront fee for momelotinib and potential aggregate milestone payments of up to $195 million, which are largely associated with commercial sales of the drug. Sierra also will pay Gilead royalties on any sales of momelotinib, which will be tiered based on commercial success and range from mid-teens to high-twenties.
Sierra will assume all currently ongoing clinical studies with momelotinib following a transition period.
(Source: Sierra Oncology)
