Use Of Protein Biomarkers Punctuates Clovis' Fast-Paced Clinical Trials Strategy

A year ago, Clovis Oncology Inc. secured $145 million in start-up financing from a cadre of blue-chip investors in the largest A round ever for a biotech. [See Deal] ( See "The A List: 2009's Trend-Shaping Series A Financings," START-UP , January 2010 Also see "The A-List: 2009's Trend-Shaping Series A Financings" - Scrip, 1 January, 2010..) Now, the firm has mapped out a potential clinical trials and approval track for its first therapeutics program. And under a deal announced in April, development of that first drug, a lipid-conjugated formulation of the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine, will include a companion diagnostic developed and sold by Roche's Ventana Medical Systems Inc.[See Deal]

In November 2009, Clovis acquired rights to the gemcitabine compound from Aqualis ASA, based on information showing that the drug could outperform gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer patients with low...