Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
(Operator Instructions). Your first question comes from Eun Yang with Jefferies & Company.
Eun Yang - Jefferies & Company
I want to ask questions regarding the partnerships. In the past you mentioned that the dual RV2 EGFR inhibitor as well as a selective RV2 inhibitor, you are looking for partners, but it seems to me that partnership discussions on MEC inhibitor and glucokinase inhibitor seem to be going better and potentially a partnership could do you more if you do the programs rather than an EGFR dual inhibitor as well as selective inhibitors. My question is what happened with the discussions or your plan to find a partner for EGFR inhibitor programs and are you still anticipating using a general partnership on those two programs?
David Snitman
We are in discussions with multiple programs, as you mentioned. The oncology programs, yes we do have active discussions ongoing with both 543 and 380; however, I think you are correct to say that the discussions around our MEC oncology program and glucokinase program are advancing at a rapid pace. So, our goal and our ability to close on multiple deals by the end of the year, we are on track for that and at this time of year I think one has to select which programs one wants to put their full attention to and focus on those and that’s what we’re doing.
Eun Yang - Jefferies & Company
My second question is on the inflammation programs. Is it fair to assume that MEK inhibitor 162 and p38 MEK kinase inhibitor or 797, is it fair to assume that those programs are pretty much on hold at this point?
David Snitman
Yes. MEK, we announced this when we had the results on the 162 program. The focus now for 162 is solely on oncology. We are in partnering discussions with the drug; there is a lot of excitement around that. We may discuss with a partner down the line additional applications for 162, but right now the concentration is on cancer and we don’t plan on investing more array capital in 162 in inflammation.
In p38 we’re not currently in clinical trials with our 797 p38 program, though we are evaluating that and we do think the drug has promise in support of cancer care as well as pain applications and we’re evaluating those. But, we have recognized that we can only have so many programs ongoing at one time in clinical development to do a good job on those and to effectively deploy our capital. So, we don’t have anything going on 797 right now, but we are evaluating alternatives for that program.
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