XL139 (BMS-833923)

Co-developed with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.

Development Status

A Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating XL139 in a variety of cancers is ongoing.

Description

XL139 is a small molecule inhibitor of the hedgehog signaling pathway. This pathway is believed to be one of the most important pathways involved in cancer stem cell maintenance, and is abnormally activated in many types of cancer. Hedgehog plays a critical role in regulating cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation in normal development. The pathway is deregulated in basal cell carcinoma, medulloblastoma, glioblastoma, multiple myeloma, pancreatic cancer, and a variety of other malignancies. Inappropriate activation of hedgehog signaling can result from activating mutations, loss of repressors, or overexpression of factors that stimulate the pathway. Signaling through hedgehog also has been shown to stimulate production of angiogenic and survival factors, both in tumor cells and in the surrounding stromal tissue.

XL139 is being co-developed with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS), and BMS has primary responsibility for the development and commercialization of the compound. We exercised our option under our collaboration agreement with BMS to co-develop and co-commercialize XL139 in the United States.

Information on Clinical Trials

Information about ongoing clinical trials of Exelixis' investigational product candidates is available at ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. General information about clinical trials and issues related to participating in clinical trials also is available at ClinicalTrials.gov.