Bristol-Myers Squibb ends vinflunine agreement

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pierre Fabre Medicament have given an update of the development status of vinflunine, with the companies opting to terminate their licensing agreement for the development of the compound.

The chemotherapy agent is currently being assessed as a treatment for a range of tumour types, including advanced or metastatic bladder cancer.

Bristol-Myers Squibb licensed the compound from Pierre Fabre Medicament in 2004 for specific territories, though following a clinical development programme review, the companies have decided that all these rights will return to Pierre Fabre Medicament.

P Hurteloup, general manager of the oncology division of Pierre Fabre Medicament, said: “In Europe, Pierre Fabre Medicament intend to continue discussions with regulatory authorities and plan to file for the registration of vinflunine for bladder cancer in the first quarter of 2008.”

He added that the firm is continuing to consider a number of other development options for the compound, including those in the field of oncology, across the globe.

In January 2007, a study from the Harvard School of Public Health revealed that men who have had gonorrhoea are twice as likely to develop bladder cancer when compared to those who have not had the disease.

A study of 286 cases of the cancer revealed a strong link to the sexually transmitted disease, with the inflammation or associated symptoms potentially conducive to the development of bladder cancer.