Nexavar emerged from our collaboration with Bayer focused on identifying and developing inhibitors of inappropriate signaling which causes cancer. Nexavar targets both the tumor cell and the tumor vasculature. In preclinical studies, Nexavar has been shown to inhibit members of two classes of kinases known to be involved in both cell proliferation (growth) and angiogenesis (blood supply) – two important processes that enable cancer growth. These kinases included RAF kinase, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, PDGFR- ß, KIT, FLT-3, and RET.

Nexavar is approved in more than 70 countries worldwide for the treatment of patients with advanced kidney cancer, and in more than 60 countries for the treatment of patients with liver cancer.

Onyx and Bayer are conducting a comprehensive development program to realize the full potential of Nexavar as an anticancer agent. Our goal is to leverage Nexavar's tolerability, convenient oral administration, and combinability to address significant unmet needs in the treatment of a broad range of cancers. As part of this program, Nexavar is currently being investigated in several ongoing trials in non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer and other tumor types.

Partner Status

We and Bayer are developing and marketing Nexavar under our collaboration and co-promotion agreements. We fund 50 percent of the development costs for Nexavar worldwide, except in Japan. With Bayer, we are co-promoting Nexavar in the United States and sharing equally in any profits or losses. Everywhere else in the world, except in Japan, Bayer has exclusive marketing rights and we share profits 50/50. In Japan, Bayer funds all product development, and we will receive a royalty. Our agreement with Bayer also provides that we receive creditable milestone-based payments totaling $40 million, all of which have been received. These payments will be repayable by us to Bayer from a portion of any of our profits and royalties.