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"This collaboration represents a successful alliance that has trulybenefited both companies. With the selection of GSK089 (formerly XL880) andpotentially one other compound, GSK has been able to strengthen its oncologypipeline. I am enthusiastic about the compounds remaining in thecollaboration, and continue to be impressed by Exelixis' quality of scienceand productivity," said Paolo Poletti, MD, senior vice president of theOncology Medicines Development Center at GSK.
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"The GSK collaboration was critical to the development of Exelixis' world-class discovery group and our rapidly expanding clinical development group.Today, we have a pipeline of 11 compounds in clinical development, includingXL184, which begins a phase 3 trial this summer," said George A. Scangos,president and chief executive officer of Exelixis. "This collaboration hasbeen successful in that both companies have been able to share in the outputof our discovery and development efforts and will be able to take forwardmultiple promising compounds with significant commercial potential inoncology. With the successful completion of the collaboration, we will haveclarity regarding the exclusivity obligations under the GSK collaboration andownership of the compounds in our pipeline."
To date, Exelixis has received approximately $235 million from GSK, whichincludes $150 million in upfront, milestone, and R&D support payments, and $85million through a loan facility. Additionally, if GSK selects a secondcompound for further development, Exelixis will be entitled to receive anadditional milestone payment of either $55 million or $27.5 million. Themilestone will be due after the selected compound achieves proof-of-conceptand will be creditable by GSK against amounts outstanding under the loanfacility. Exelixis is eligible for development milestones and royalties oncompounds selected for development and commercialization by GSK, which includeXL880 and potentially one additional compound if GSK exercises its seconddevelopment election. Exelixis will pay GSK a low, single-digit royalty oncertain "Refused Candidates" that GSK elected not to choose with itsdevelopment election which Exelixis thereafter successfully commercializes.
Background on Exelixis-GSK Collaboration
In October 2002, Exelixis and GSK established a broad alliance todiscover, develop, and commercialize novel therapeutics in the areas ofvascular biology, inflammatory disease, and oncology. Under the agreement,Exelixis was required to deliver to GSK a number of small molecule compoundsthat met agreed-upon proof-of-concept criteria, and GSK had the option toselect up to two of these compounds for further development, and worldwidecommercialization.
In January 2005, the GSK agreement was amended to focus on 12 specificprograms: XL647, XL999,
