Taladegib (LY2940680) is an orally bioavailable small molecule antagonist of the Hedgehog (Hh)-ligand cell surface receptor smoothened (Smo) with potential antineoplastic activity. Taladegib inhibits signaling that is mediated by the Hh pathway protein Smo, which may result in a suppression of the Hh signaling pathway and may lead to the inhibition of the proliferation of tumor cells in which this pathway is abnormally activated. The Hh signaling pathway plays an important role in cellular growth, differentiation and repair; constitutive activation of this pathway is associated with uncontrolled cellular proliferation and has been observed in a variety of cancers. Taladegib has excellent pharmacokinetic properties in rodent and non-rodent species. Taladegib administrated orally treats Ptch+/- p53-/- transgenic mice which spontaneously develop medulloblastoma, produces remarkable efficacy and significantly improves their survival. Taladegib reveals rapid kinetics of anti-tumor activity through magnetic resonance imaging of these mice, and Taladegib induces Caspase-3 activity and reduces proliferation by immunohistochemistry analysis of medulloblastoma tumors. Taladegib inhibits Hh regulated gene expression in the subcutaneous xenograft tumor stroma and produces significant anti-tumor activity. Taladegib is currently in phase I clinical trials for ovarian cancer and solid tumours and in phase I/II for esophageal cancer. Ignyta exclusively licensed Taladegib from Eli Lilly and Company in November 2015.