Biotech Values

[mcbio]

Re: GILD/CGI purchase (Syk inhibitor)

From a separate PR (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Gilead-Sciences-to-Acquire-bw-1156940116.html?x=0&.v=1 ):

CGI has generated a library of proprietary small molecule kinase inhibitors. The lead preclinical compound from this library targets spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) and could have unique applications for the treatment of serious inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.

I can't imagine GILD did this acquisition solely for the Syk inhibitor. First, this program is way behind RIGL, which is partnered with AZN for its Syk inhibitor targeting RA that is going into Phase 3. Second, there still remain the potentially serious concerns with Syk inhibitors pertaining to potential increases in breast cancer risk (#msg-42840803 ).