Partner:  

Mechanism of Action: small molecule inhibitors against key cell-cycle regulator

Indication: Oncology

Collaborative program: Astex Pharmaceuticals and Genentech Inc., a member of the Roche Group, announced that they had entered into an exclusive worldwide license and research collaboration agreement in July 2026. The goal of the collaboration is to identify small molecule drug candidates with selective inhibitory activity against a key cell-cycle-dependent regulator as potential treatments for breast cancer.

Under the terms of the agreement, Astex will grant Genentech an exclusive license to compounds from Astex’s existing drug discovery program and will collaborate with Genentech to accelerate the further optimisation and development of lead compounds towards the identification of preclinical candidates. Genentech will be solely responsible for preclinical and clinical development of lead candidates as well as commercialisation of all medicines arising from the collaboration globally.

Astex’s drug discovery program originated from an earlier collaborative project under Astex’s strategic alliance agreement with Newcastle University and Cancer Research Horizons.