Pharmacyclics receives Servier's $7 million milestone payment for HDAC inhibitor

Pharmacyclics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCYC) announced today that it has received a $7 million milestone payment for its histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, PCI-24781 / S 78454 from Les Laboratoires Servier ("Servier") based on an ex-US collaboration agreement signed in April of 2009.  Over the past two years Servier has engaged in several exploratory Phase I/II trials in solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.  Servier is now focused on its Phase II programs to enable the registration pathway for PCI-24781 / S 78454.

"Five phase I and I/II trials are ongoing in Europe in lymphomas and solid tumors. The first results are very encouraging in terms of clinical activity and safety profile and we plan to start soon new combination trials," said Stephane Depil MD, PhD, Director of Oncology Research and Development Unit at Servier.

"Servier is delighted to work with Pharmacyclics under this partnership," said Emmanuel Canet MD, PhD, Servier's President, Research and Development. "The molecule PCI-24781 / S 78454 has performed well in a variety of early stage trials and exceeds our expectations. We plan to further expand the clinical development of PCI-27481 / S 78454."

Mr. Robert Duggan, Pharmacyclics CEO & Chairman, added, "we are very pleased with the progress of PCI-24781 / S 78454 and the alliance with Servier. We are looking forward to work closely with our partner to advance this molecule to the market."