AVEO Oncology, a cancer therapeutics company, and Astellas Pharma Inc. will be ending their worldwide collaboration and license agreement for the development and commercialization of investigational agent tivozanib. Tivozanib is an investigational tyrosine kinase inhibitor of all three vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors.
Astellas has exercised its right to terminate the agreement signed in 2011 for strategic reasons, based on the clinical status of the three indications studied. Additionally, the companies agreed to discontinue the ongoing phase II BATON (Biomarker Assessment of Tivozanib in ONcology) study in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The termination of the collaboration will be effective August 11, 2014 at which time tivozanib rights will be returned to AVEO. In accordance with the collaboration and license agreement, committed development expenses will be shared equally.
“We would like to thank Astellas for its commitment to tivozanib and our partnership over the past three years,” said Tuan Ha-Ngoc, president and chief executive officer of AVEO. “Given today’s announcements, we are re-aligning our resources behind key development opportunities to bring clinically meaningful treatments to patients and create shareholder value. We look forward to outlining our corporate strategy when we report our fourth quarter and full year 2013 results.”
“While our decision is based on strategic reasons, Astellas is proud of our partnership and work with AVEO,” said Yoshihiko Hatanaka, president and CEO of Astellas. “We remain committed to the field of Oncology to help meet the unmet needs of cancer patients.”
Astellas Pharma Inc., is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceuticals.
AVEO Oncology is a cancer therapeutics company committed to discovering and developing targeted therapies designed to provide substantial impact in patients’ lives by addressing unmet medical needs.