Genentech to fund Curis researchers in Hedgehog carcinoma study

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., May 9 - Curis, Inc. announced that Genentech has extended funding to support Curis personnel performing research services through December, with an option to extend further research funding through June 11, 2007, if both parties agree.

As part of this collaboration, a phase 1 study of a small-molecule antagonist of the Hedgehog pathway in basal cell carcinoma is ongoing.

The primary objective of this study is to obtain data about the preliminary safety and tolerability profile of a four-week regimen of the drug candidate, according to a news release.

This study is enrolling a total of about 60 patients over three segments:

• Segment 1, a dose-escalation segment in which patients are randomized to receive treatment at one of four dose levels;

• Segment 2, a segment in which additional patients are treated at the highest dose from the dose-escalation segment;

• Segment 3, a pharmacodynamic segment to evaluate biologic activity of the molecule.

As previously announced, preliminary data from segments 1 and 2 revealed no significant safety concerns and suggested some signs of activity, although there was less clinical activity observed than anticipated.

Final data from all three segments will be analyzed in late 2006 instead of June, the release said.

Curis is a therapeutic drug-development company based Cambridge, Mass.

Genentech is a biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, Calif.

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