On January 30, 2012 Curis, Inc., a drug development company seeking to develop next generation targeted small molecule drug candidates for cancer treatment, reported that Erivedge (vismodegib) capsule was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adults with a type of skin cancer, called basal cell carcinoma, that has spread to other parts of the body or that has come back after surgery or that their healthcare provider decides cannot be treated with surgery or radiation (Press release, Cancer Research Technology, JAN 30, 2012, View Source [SID1234523521]). Erivedge is the first and only FDA-approved medicine for people with advanced forms of the most common skin cancer. It is being developed and will be commercialized by Roche and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, under a collaboration agreement between Curis and Genentech.
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GDC-0449, a first-in-class hedgehog pathway inhibitor, was initially identified as a developmentally related gene in drosophila at the London Research Institute (Phil Ingham in collaboration with Harvard scientists). CRT subsequently licensed Hedgehog IP to Curis in 1995.
Dr Keith Blundy, Cancer Research Technology’s CEO, said: "We’re delighted that Vismodegib has been approved by the FDA ahead of the March deadline. This announcement brings us a step closer to approval in Europe by the EMA.
"The target of this drug, a signalling pathway called hedgehog, was co-identified by a team of Cancer Research UK scientists in the 1990’s and it is a great example of how early basic research funded by the charity can be translated into patient benefit."
For more information, view the Curis press release.