Infinity Pharmaceuticals initiates Phase 1b/2 trial of IPI-926 Hedgehog pathway inhibitor for pancreatic cancer

-- Infinity Advances Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitor Into Later Clinical Development --

-- New Preclinical Data in Several Cancer Indications Further Support Broad Therapeutic Potential of IPI-926 --

Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:INFI), an innovative drug discovery and development company, today announced that it has initiated a randomized Phase 1b/2 clinical trial evaluating IPI-926, its novel, oral Hedgehog pathway inhibitor, in combination with gemcitabine in patients with pancreatic cancer. In addition, Infinity reported new preclinical data on IPI-926 during the 2010 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting demonstrating that IPI-926 delays tumor re-growth after regression of the tumors by chemotherapy and by targeted therapy, further supporting the potential for Hedgehog pathway inhibition by IPI-926 in a broad range of difficult to treat cancers.

"We are excited to evaluate IPI-926 in a clinical study that builds upon the encouraging preclinical data we have generated in which Hedgehog pathway inhibition may improve access of chemotherapeutics to tumors by altering the tumor microenvironment," said Vito Palombella, Ph.D., vice president of drug discovery, Infinity. "Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease with few meaningful therapeutic options. We believe the administration of IPI-926 in combination with chemotherapy may represent a new approach to improving outcomes in patients with this disease."