FORMA, TD2 leverage synergistic capabilities to jointly develop transformative cancer therapies

Organizational synergies will create transformative cancer therapies

FORMA Therapeutics and TGen Drug Development (TD2) today announced an agreement to jointly develop transformative cancer therapies, leveraging the synergistic capabilities of both organizations.

TD2 is a subsidiary of the Phoenix-based Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), a world-renowned biomedical research institute.

FORMA and TD2 also announced that Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., F.A.C.P., TGen's Distinguished Professor and Physician-in-Chief, and Stephen Gately, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer at TD2, will serve as clinical advisors to FORMA.

FORMA Therapeutics targets essential cancer pathways to create transformative, small molecule cancer therapies. Its focus on early identification of potent tool compounds helps facilitate target validation, enabling the creation of a robust pipeline of new therapies in areas such as tumor metabolism, protein-protein interactions and epigenetics.

TD2's mission is to facilitate innovative drug development and move new, targeted compounds to patients as quickly as possible. TD2 applies cutting-edge preclinical tools, streamlined and efficient regulatory processes and unique, targeted clinical trial designs and strategies. The combination of cutting-edge science, clinical development expertise and access to patients will accelerate the development of new agents for patients.

"I am excited about the potential of this relationship between FORMA and TD2," said Dr. Von Hoff. "It will accelerate the creation of new molecules that could be placed in research programs, such as our US Oncology Research Phase I program, further accelerating development and getting the right treatment to the right patient as soon as possible."

"TD2 brings preclinical and clinical development capabilities to FORMA, filling the missing piece in our strategy to become a fully-integrated research and development organization, leading the creation of breakthrough medicines for cancer patients," said Steven Tregay, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of FORMA. "We welcome Drs. Von Hoff and Gately as advisors and their unprecedented experience and networks in oncology drug development."

"FORMA's pioneering approach to oncology small molecule drug discovery has been prolific in tackling intractable targets and establishing industry partnerships," said Dr. Von Hoff. "We look forward to bringing the experience of our team to the FORMA team to guide its discovery programs and develop these important new drugs for patients."

TD2 has helped transition more than 40 companies from discovery to clinical development over the past five years, and TD2 has collective experience in performing clinical studies on more than 400 new anti-cancer agents.

"Our oncology discovery programs span more than 30 drug targets per year, and we need a partner to help direct the right drugs to the right patient groups," said Kenneth Bair, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Research and Development of FORMA. "The TD2 team provides unique access to genetically selected patient populations that will help us both discover and test personalized therapeutics."