Bayer and OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Enter Strategic Alliance to Develop Anti-Cancer Stem Cell Therapeutics

WAYNE, N.J., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer Schering Pharma AG and OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced a global strategic alliance to discover, develop and commercialize novel anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics targeting the Wnt signaling pathway.  Cancer stem cells are a subset of tumor cells believed to play a significant role in the establishment, metastasis and recurrence of cancer and agents targeting the Wnt pathway have the potential to be developed as pan-tumor drugs.  The strategic alliance provides Bayer with the option to exclusively license antibody and protein therapeutic product candidates at any point up to the completion of Phase I testing.  In addition, Bayer and OncoMed will share technology and know-how to discover and develop small molecule inhibitors of the pathway.

"At Bayer, we recognize the high unmet medical need for cancer treatments.  This collaboration with OncoMed demonstrates our commitment to developing new and innovative treatment options," said Prof. Andreas Busch, Head of Global Drug Discovery and Member of the Board of Management at Bayer. "The development of anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics together with OncoMed is a highly innovative approach with the potential to perfectly complement our oncology portfolio.  Anti-cancer stem cell research could turn out as one of the missing pieces in today's cancer therapy."

"Our alliance with Bayer represents a major opportunity to discover and develop an entirely new class of anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics with one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the world.  Bayer shares our vision for the potential of anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics, and we look forward to working closely with them," said Paul J. Hastings, President and CEO of OncoMed.  "OncoMed has established a rich pipeline of product candidates targeting a number of critical cancer stem cell pathways.  Through this collaboration, we will gain significant additional funding to support the discovery and development of therapeutics targeting the Wnt pathway, as we continue, with our already strong cash position, and our other sources of collaborative revenue to fully finance and advance all of our programs for years to come."

Under the terms of the agreement, Bayer and OncoMed will develop antibodies, protein therapeutics, and small molecules as potential novel anti-cancer stem cell therapeutics targeting the Wnt signaling pathway.  In addition to an upfront payment of $40 million, OncoMed is eligible to receive cash payments for product candidates that Bayer options and possible additional payments upon achievement of certain development and commercialization milestones.  The collaboration could potentially include up to five compounds.  The agreement includes potential significant near-term milestone payments from Bayer.  For each biotherapeutic or small molecule drug candidate successfully developed through Phase III clinical trials and regulatory approval, OncoMed's payments could total up to $387.5 million (biotherapeutic drug) and $112 million (small molecule drug) per program, already including net sales milestones.

OncoMed will utilize its proprietary human cancer stem cell models to discover and advance three potential first-in-class antibody and protein therapeutics into clinical testing and through Phase I studies.  Bayer receives an option to exclusively license antibody and protein therapeutic product candidates at any point up to the completion of Phase I testing.  Following option exercise, Bayer will lead development and commercialization of licensed product candidates and will have rights to commercialize approved products in all markets.  OncoMed will be eligible to receive double-digit royalties on net product sales.  The agreement contains provisions under which OncoMed may co-develop biologic therapeutics with Bayer.  The collaboration includes for example OncoMed's lead Wnt pathway antibody, [OMP-18R5], which is intended to enter clinical testing in 2011.

In addition to the biologics approach, Bayer will use its in-house expertise and lead the discovery and development of small molecule compounds as therapeutic candidates modulating Wnt signaling.  OncoMed will assist Bayer in the evaluation and advancement of such candidates by providing its proprietary assay technology and in vitro/in vivo profiling of the compounds.  OncoMed will be eligible to receive single-digit royalties on net product sales.

About Cancer Stem Cells and the Wnt Signaling Pathway

Cancer stem cells, a small, resilient subset of cells found in tumors, have the capacity to self-renew and differentiate, leading to tumor initiation and driving tumor growth, recurrence and metastasis.  Also referred to as "tumor-initiating cells," these cells were first discovered by OncoMed's scientific founders in breast cancer and have subsequently been identified in many other types of solid tumors, including cancer of the head and neck, lung, prostate, pancreas, and glioblastoma.  Cancer stem cells appear to be preferentially resistant to both standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy.  OncoMed's strategy is to improve cancer treatment by specifically targeting the key biologic pathways which are thought to be critical to the activity and survival of cancer stem cells.  OncoMed's antibody therapeutics target cancer stem cell proteins and have the potential to be developed against a range of solid tumor types.  

The Wnt signaling pathway is one of several identified by OncoMed as an important therapeutic target in halting cancer stem cell activity.  In preclinical studies of monoclonal antibody drug candidates that target Wnt signaling, OncoMed scientists have observed broad-spectrum anti-tumor and anti-cancer stem cell activity in a number of solid tumor types.

About OncoMed Pharmaceuticals

OncoMed Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage company that discovers and develops novel therapeutics targeting cancer stem cells, the cells believed to be capable of driving tumor growth, recurrence and metastases.  A leader in cancer stem cell research, the company has established a library of antibodies to cancer stem cell proteins for the treatment of solid tumors such as pancreatic, breast, colorectal and lung cancers.  OncoMed's lead candidate, OMP-21M18 is currently in Phase I clinical trials.  In addition to OMP-21M18, OncoMed's pipeline includes several novel preclinical product candidates targeting multiple validated cancer stem cell pathways.  OncoMed is a privately-held company.  Additional information can be found at the company's website: www.oncomed.com.

About Bayer HealthCare

The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of healthcare, nutrition and high-tech materials.  Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany.  The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Bayer Schering Pharma, Consumer Care and Medical Care divisions.  Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover, manufacture and market products that will improve human and animal health worldwide.  Find more information at www.bayerhealthcare.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

SOURCE Bayer HealthCare