Teva and Checkpoint Therapeutics agree licensing deal for cancer drug

Teva and Checkpoint Therapeutics have announced a new licence agreement for an oral PARP inhibitor for the treatment of cancer.

The deal will see Checkpoint acquire exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialise CEP-8983 and its small molecule prodrug, CEP-9722, currently in early clinical development for solid tumors.

CEP-9722 is a novel, orally active, small molecule selective inhibitor of PARP-1 and PARP-2 enzymes. It will be developed by Checkpoint as both a monotherapy and in combination with other anti-cancer agents, including the novel immuno-oncology and checkpoint inhibitor antibodies the firm has in development.

PARP inhibitors have been associated with promising activity across multiple tumour types, including breast, ovarian and prostate cancer.

Dr Michael Hayden, president of global research and development and chief scientific officer at Teva, said: "We believe Checkpoint's development capabilities, in combination with its immuno-oncology antibodies already under development, will enable these molecules to move forward with future potential for patients."