Opinion on  OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OSIP)     Sector: Healthcare  >  Industry: Biotechnology & Drugs
OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc.

OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company, discovers, develops, and commercializes molecular targeted therapies for oncology, diabetes, and obesity in the United States and internationally. Its flagship product, Tarceva (erlotinib) is a small molecule inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor, which is used for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer, as well as for the treatment of patients with locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer in combination with the chemotherapy agent, gemcitabine. The company also offers Macugen for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration; and Novantrone, an anthracenedione used as an intravenous chemotherapy agent, as well as for the treatment of acute non-lymphocytic leukemia, and the relief of pain associated with hormone refractory prostate cancer. OSI Pharmaceuticals also has oncology pipeline of molecular targeted therapies in clinical and pre-clinical development, which include OSI-906, an insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor inhibitor implicated in various tumor types; and OSI-027, a mammalian target of rapamycin kinase inhibitor. In addition, the company has research and development programs in diabetes and obesity, including PSN821, an orally administered G protein-coupled receptor 119, agonist with anti-diabetic and appetite suppressing features; and PSN602, an oral dual serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor and 5-HT1A agonist for the treatment of obesity. Further, it develops OSI-930, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor designed to target the suppression of both cancer cell proliferation and blood vessel growth, or angiogenesis, in selected tumors; OSI-632, an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2; and CP-868,596, a PDGFR inhibitor that is in Phase I trials. OSI Pharmaceuticals has collaboration agreements with Genentech, Inc.; Roche; and AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Melville, New York.