New drug XL999

Exelixis, Inc. announced the initiation of a multi-trial Phase II clinical development program for XL999. The Phase II program is composed of six trials that will evaluate XL999 in a variety of cancer indications. Four solid tumor clinical trials are currently open for patient enrollment at several centers in the US. Two additional trials, in AML and multiple myeloma are expected to initiate in the near future. XL999, a Spectrum Selective Kinase Inhibitor(TM), is a potent small molecule inhibitor of key receptor tyrosine kinases implicated in the development and maintenance of tumor vasculature and in the proliferation of some tumor cells.