- Astex Pharma (formerly known as Supergen) presented at UBS on 9/21/11 - see my notes below. As always, new comments/updates are bolded for convenience.
- See the Upcoming Events page for links to biotech webcasts and my notes.
- See the ASTX (formerly SUPG) research page for more detailed company info.
- Partnerships include up to $1.5b future potential milestones
- 3 members of management team have been CEOs
- 35% of FTE work on Janssen ($JNJ) and GSK discovery deals
- We would consider in-licensing as appropriate [doesn't seem like they would right now, since they just said they coudln't invest in all of the pipeline assets of the merged entity]
- global hypomethylator market is $1b, growing at 10% rate
- Dacogen filing with EMEA- expect to hear back mid year 2012
- BMS bought Kosan for HSP90 inhibitors. Drugs had activity but liver and cardiac dose limiting toxicities (DLTs)
- has best in class potential [don't they all...]
- starting phase 2 in GIST (saw responses in phase 1). Single agent and combo with imatinib arms [But sounds like there is no imatinib alone arm to make it a proper randomized trial - this is confirmed by ClinicalTrials.gov listing for the trial and is disappointing]
- NCI CRADA - allows broader exploration of tumors types and combos
- "0001" phase 1trial was once/twice weekly dosing. most of these agents are now dosed weekly, due to good tumor retention - ours is probably the best with 72 hr half life [based on preclinical data]. CRADA will explore HER2 driven breast cancer among others [this population was the subject of a relatively successful trial with an earlier generation HSP90 inhibitor]
- "0002" is GIST trial
- other phase 2 program early next year (alone and via CRADA)
- This is other "priority compound in pipeline"
- next generation decitabine (Dacogen) - slower release as dinuclotide breaks down in system. Also differentiated based on subcutaneous low volume (1 ml formulation vs 1 hr IV or 5 mL multiple site sub-cutaneous for Dacogen). Exploring daily for 5 days dosing regimen as well as weekly subcutaneous.
- Will expand phase 1/2 trial into phase 2 later next year. Already have several cohorts, PK/PD behaving well and being used to guide dose escalation (not just safety-based escalation). We are comparing the 2 regimens. Once we reach recommended dose (anticipate early in 1q2012), will then move into 50 patient escalation portion at chosen dose and regmine.
- Has potential in solid tumors (different from Dacogen/Vidaza) - we are looking forward to putting together a phase 2 program early next year, start probably with ovarian cancer (mentioned "nice presentation" with carboplatin at ASCO this year)
- COM patent issued in 2010
- amuvatinib - phase 2 started in SCLC
- AT7519 - CDK inhibitor
- Will be new PUBLIC company via revese takeover [this is a new wrinkle, had only mentioned that they were "trying to raise money." I can't believe they could pull off an IPO in current climate, so this seems a logical option, as did just raising some money as private entity]
- Ownership breakdown: 80% astex, 20% ascalon ownership [before reverse takeover or fundraising, obviously]. Milestone payment opportunities to Astex on 9283 license.
- Complete formation by ye2012
- as of 7/20/2011: 92.784m shares, 14.351m options, 0.185m warrants = 107.32m fully diluted shares
- q&a in breakout session
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