AstraZeneca PLC dosed its first cancer patient in a phase 1 clinical trial with our MEK inhibitor, ARRY-704 (AZD8330), triggering a $2 million milestone payment from AstraZeneca to Array BioPharma Inc. In December 2003, Array partnered the oncology portion of its MEK programme, including its lead compound, ARRY-886 (AZD6244), for co-development and commercialisation with AstraZeneca.

The collaboration included research and development of additional clinical candidates, which resulted in the selection of ARRY-704 in December 2005.

ARRY-704 is a potent, selective, orally active MEK inhibitor that blocks signal transduction pathways implicated in cancer cell proliferation and survival. ARRY-704 has shown tumour suppressive activity in multiple preclinical models of human cancer including melanoma, pancreatic, colon, lung, and breast cancers.