Geron expands clinical oncology pipeline in deal with Angiochem for brain cancer drugs

California, USA-based Geron Corp (Nasdaq: GERN) has entered into an agreement with privately held Canadian firm Angiochem for a worldwide exclusive license to peptide technology to facilitate the transfer of anticancer compounds across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to enable the treatment of primary brain cancers and cancers that have metastasized to the brain.

Under the terms of the deal, Angiochem will receive an undisclosed upfront license fee from Geron for the exclusive license rights. The Canadian company is also entitled to receive milestone payments, royalties on product sales and a share of sublicensing revenues. Specific terms were not announced.

The license covers proprietary receptor-targeting peptides conjugated to tubulin disassembly inhibitors, including GRN1005 (formerly ANG1005), a novel taxane derivative, that has completed two Phase I clinical trials in patients with primary brain tumors and in patients with brain metastases from breast and lung cancer. In addition, the companies entered into a research and collaboration agreement to utilize these receptor-targeting peptides to transport telomerase inhibitors into the central nervous system (CNS).