Exelixis Looks To Early-Stage Option Rights As Low-Risk Pipeline Expansion Play

Exelixis, Inc. has entered into a pair of R&D collaboration and option deals for early-stage cancer candidates that it claims could offer both a first-in-class opportunity with a peptide-drug conjugate and a best-in-class opportunity to target SIRP-alpha in immuno-oncology, part of a lower-risk business development strategy, management explained during its same-day third quarter earnings call.

On the 1 November Q3 earnings call, Exelixis CEO Michael Morrissey explained that his company is employing a business development strategy intended to gain access to early clinical- or preclinical-stage cancer candidates that offer differentiated therapeutic benefits