Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has earned a $7.5 million milestone payment from AstraZeneca for the advancement of ISIS-STAT3_Rx (AZD9150) in patients with advanced cancers. Isis will earn the second $7.5 million milestone upon initiation of a Phase II study.  AstraZeneca is currently evaluating ISIS-STAT3_Rx in a Phase 1/2 study in patients with advanced metastatic liver cancer.  AstraZeneca plans to initiate additional clinical studies to further evaluate ISIS-STAT3_Rx.
 
In total, Isis is eligible to receive as much as $70 million in milestone payments for the advancement of ISIS-STAT3_Rx, and as much as $170 million in regulatory milestones plus royalties on sales.
 
“AstraZeneca’s expertise and resources in the area of oncology drug development are a significant benefit for the clinical development of ISIS-STAT3_Rx,” said B. Lynne Parshall, chief operating officer at Isis Pharmaceuticals.  “We are pleased, not only with the substantial resources and expertise that AstraZeneca has brought to this program, but also with their commitment to advancing ISIS-STAT3_Rx into clinical development.”