Roche, Kosan move cancer drug into Phase II trial

ZURICH, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Switzerland's Roche Holding AG (ROG.VX: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Tuesday it was moving its R1645 cancer treatment, developed with Kosan Biosciences Inc. KOSN.O, into a Phase II clinical trial.

The compound, also known as KOS-1584, was well tolerated in early stage trials and was effective against ovarian and non-small cell lung cancers, Roche said in a statement.

Roche funds development of the drug and, if approved, will have exclusive global rights to market and sell R1645.

Kosan would co-promote the drug in the United States and would receive additional payments, including royalties.

The R1645 compound is an epothilone, a new class of cancer drugs that work by stopping cells from dividing properly and thus inhibiting the spread of the disease.

((Reporting by Sam Cage,

Editing by David Holmes

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