Astex Pharmaceuticals has passed all assets relating to its Climb™ anticancer epigenetics collaboration to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), its existing partner in the project. The collaboration was initiated between SuperGen and GlaxoSmithKline in 2009, but following last year’s acquisition of Astex Therapeutics by SuperGen, the newly named Astex Pharmaceuticals says a strategic pipeline and drug discovery program review has led to the decision to transfer the program to GSK.
As a result Astex will have no further obligation to carry out any further research work on the program but will continue to be eligible for milestones and royalties under an asset transfer agreement.
An ongoing R&D partnership and license agreement between the Astex subsidiary, Astex Therapeutics, and GSK, will continue unchanged. This deal was initiated in November 2009 and includes a multitarget drug discovery arrangement.