Astellas has emphasised its strategic focus on oncology by signing a development and commercialisation agreement outside of Asia for tivozanib, AVEO Pharmaceuticals’ Phase III drug candidate whose lead indication is advanced renal cell carcinoma. The deal, which is potentially worth more than US$1.4 M, represents one of the largest cancer licensing deals in recent years and sees AVEO receive US$125 M upfront in the form of a licence fee and R&D funding.