GlaxoSmithKline won't license two Cytokinetics drugs

LONDON British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline will not license two drugs from Cytokinetics under a drug discovery, development and commercialization agreement between the two companies.

The two drugs, SB-743921 and ispinesib, are kinesin spindle protein inhibitors for treating cancer. 

The collaboration between the Cytokinetics and GSK, set up in 2001, will continue, focusing on the GSK drug candidate GSK-923295. Cytokinetics will retain all rights to the two drug candidates. 

"While we are disappointed in this outcome, we understand GSK?s business decision," Cytokinetics president and chief executive officer Robert Blum said in a statement. "We are encouraged by the safety and tolerability of each of ispinesib and SB-743921, as well as the amplified activity observed with the more dose-dense scheduling of these novel drug candidates."