AbbVie and GSK Invest in TCE Antibodies; Ono Abandons Itolizumab Acquisition; Chipscreen and Hisun Terminate Promotion Agreement
GSK
Pharmaceutical R&D Manufacturer
Insight database "Pharmaceutical Transactions" module shows that there were 30 pharmaceutical transactions globally this week (as of November 1), involving GSK, Novartis, AbbVie, Biogen, ImmuOnco, Yangtze River Pharmaceutical, Organon & Co., etc.
Among them:
NovartisOver $2 billion layout in molecular glue protein degraders,GSK $300 Million Upfront for Acquisition of Enmu Bio's T Cell Engager (TCE);
AbbVie Moves FrequentlyFirst, it spent approximately $1.4 billion acquiring a CNS newcomer to obtain Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapy, and then invested $1.5 billion to collaborate on developing novel antibody therapies based on the TCE platform.
Some cooperation progress is not smooth, such asOno PharmaceuticalAbandon the acquisition of Equillium's Itolizumab,MicroCore Biotech and Hisun PharmaceuticalThe promotion cooperation for the new diabetes drug Ciglitazone Sodium was terminated in advance;
In addition, other companies have reached new collaborations, involving innovative products such as small molecule glue degraders, next-generation synthetic peptides, and CAR-T.
Below, the Insight database will introduce some selected highly anticipated transaction cases for readers' reference.
Novartis, AbbVie,GSKMultinational pharmaceutical companies布局new therapies
Novartis Reaches Over $2 Billion Collaboration
Monte Rosa Therapeutics Announces Collaboration with Novartis, Granting Novartis AccessMRT-6160 and Other Molecular Glues Targeting VAV1 for Protein DegradationThe global exclusive rights for development, manufacturing, and commercialization. According to the agreement, Monte Rosa will receive an upfront payment of $150 million and is eligible for up to $2.1 billion in development, regulatory, and sales milestone payments.
MRT-6160 isA potent, highly selective oral VAV1 degrader, with the potential to become a treatment option for various immune-mediated diseases, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and dermatological conditions. Currently, the product is undergoing Phase 1 clinical trials in healthy volunteers.
AbbVie Partners for $1.5 Billion to Develop Novel Antibody Therapy
AbbVie and EvolveImmune Therapeutics Announce a Collaboration Worth Approximately $1.5 BillionWill utilize the latter'sT Cell Engager (TCE)Platform Develops Novel Antibody Therapies for Solid Tumors and Hematologic MalignanciesAccording to the agreement, EvolveImmune will receive a total of $65 million in upfront payments and equity investments, and is eligible for up to $1.4 billion in milestone payments and other amounts.
EvolveImmune is dedicated to developing potential "first-in-class" multifunctional biologics to overcome a range of cancer-induced immune deficiencies in solid and hematologic malignancies. Its proprietary platform aims to deliver potent, selective, and integrated T-cell co-stimulation to enhance and sustain the tumor-killing capabilities of T cells.
AbbVie Acquires CNS Innovator for $1.4 Billion
AbbVie and Aliada Therapeutics Announce Definitive AgreementWill Acquire for Approximately USD 1.4 BillionAliada, and obtain its main projectsAlzheimer's Disease (AD) Therapy ALIA-1758. This acquisition is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Aliada is dedicated to developing innovative therapies for central nervous system (CNS) diseases by leveraging novel blood-brain barrier (BBB) crossing technologies. ALIA-1758, currently in Phase 1 clinical trials, is an investigational Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapy that utilizes its innovative delivery technology to transport antibodies targeting pyroglutamylated amyloid-beta (3pE-Aβ) across the BBB via TfR.
Biogen Invests $1.45 Billion in Small Molecule Degraders
Biogen and Neomorph Announce Research CollaborationAimed at discovering and developing molecular glue degraders, used for treatmentAlzheimer's DiseaseAndRare Neurological SystemAndImmune Systemand other diseases. For this, Neomorph will receive an upfront payment with a total amount of up to $1.45 billion as well as various potential milestone payments.
Neomorph Focuses on Developing Molecular Glue Degraders for "Undruggable Targets." This collaboration aims to leverage the company's proprietary molecular glue discovery platform to accelerate the identification and validation of novel small-molecule therapeutic molecular glue degraders. Biogen will be responsible for advancing the further development and potential commercialization of clinical candidates.
GSK Acquires a TCE from Enmu Bio for $850 Million
GSK and Chimagen Announce Acquisition of Global Rights to TCE Product CMG1A46 for $300 Million Upfront; Chimagen Eligible for up to $550 Million in Development and Commercial Milestone Payments
CMG1A46 isA T-cell engager (TCE) targeting CD19 and CD20, which has high affinity for CD19 and CD20 positive B cells and low affinity for CD3. Currently, the product is in Phase 1 clinical trials for leukemia and lymphoma in the United States and China. GSK plans to develop and commercialize CMG1A46, with a focus on B cell-drivenAutoimmune Diseases。
Other Authorized Collaborations
Immunotech Biopharmaceutical and Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Reach Cooperation
Immunotech and Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group Successfully Hold Strategic Cooperation Signing Ceremony; Immunotech to Collaborate with Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group Drug Research Institute in Various Fields According to the Agreement.The two parties will carry out long-term cooperation in drug research and development, production, sales, as well as investment and financing mergers and acquisitions, technical support, and consulting services., and is expected to establish cooperation in the field of hyaluronidase (subcutaneous drug delivery) with priority, and develop new antibody drugs.
Imming Angke is committed to developing cancer immunotherapy, and its core product, the SIRPα-Fc fusion protein IMM01, has entered phase 3 clinical trials. Dr. Tian Wenzhi, the founder and chairman of the company, stated that he looks forward to this collaboration fully leveraging the strengths and characteristics of all parties involved, while accelerating and optimizing the development process of its research pipeline.
MicroCore Biotech and Hisun Pharmaceutical Terminate Promotion Cooperation in Advance
MicroCore Biotech announced that due to the termination of the original agreement-related authorization,Promotion cooperation for the drug Ciglitazone Sodium Tablets (Dualopin) with Hisun Pharmaceutical has been terminated in advance.The company will reclaim the exclusive marketing rights for the drug Ciglitazone Sodium Tablets in 19 provinces, including Henan, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu, as originally agreed in the contract. The MicroCore sales team will be responsible for all promotional activities for the drug across mainland China.
Suglinta Sodium is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pan-agonist, which has been approved in China for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and was included in the National Reimbursement Drug List in 2022. In December 2020, Chipscreen Biosciences exclusively licensed the marketing rights of this product in the designated authorized regions of mainland China to Hisun Pharmaceutical.
ONO PHARMACEUTICAL GIVES UP ACQUISITION OF ETOZULIMAB
Equillium Announces That Ono Pharmaceutical Has Made a Strategic Business Decision,Decides Not to Exercise Its Right to Acquire Itolizumab. This decision was unrelated to data from any clinical programs, and no safety issues were observed or reported. Therefore, Equillium retains all commercial rights to Itolizumab.
Eptacog beta isA Monoclonal Antibody Targeting the CD6-ALCAM Signaling Pathway, playing a central role in regulating the effector T cells that drive many immune-inflammatory diseases. Currently, the product is being evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical study in patients with acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD).
Organon Completes Acquisition of Dermavant
Organon Announces Completion of Acquisition of Dermavant Sciences from Roivant, Including ItsInnovative Dermatological Treatment Vtama (tapinarof) CreamDermavant is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in immuno-dermatology. According to the agreement, the acquisition involves a total amount of up to 1.2 billion US dollars, including a prepayment of 175 million US dollars and milestone payments of 75 million US dollars.
The generic name for Vtama in Chinese is Benvelumod, which was initially jointly developed by China's Tianji Pharmaceutical and Zhonghao Pharmaceuticals., its overseas development rights eventually landed in the hands of Dermavant. The drug has been approved for use in treating plaque psoriasis in regions such as the United States and China.
Lyell Immunopharma Completes Acquisition of ImmPACT Bio
Lyell Immunopharma Announces Completion of Acquisition of Cell Therapy Leader ImmPACT BioStrengthened Lyell's Clinical Pipeline for CAR-T Cell Therapy, and introduced an innovative technology aimed at generating more durable functional T-cells, leading to longer-lasting results.
Lyell Immunopharma is a clinical-stage T-cell reprogramming company aimed at advancing the next generation of CAR-T cell therapy pipelines for patients with solid tumors or hematologic malignancies. This acquisition has enabled the company to expand its portfolio.A Dual-Targeted CD19/CD20 CAR-T Cell Candidate Drug IMPT-314, the product is expected to launch a pivotal trial for third-line patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2025.
HK inno.N Introduces New Immunotherapy
South Korean pharmaceutical company HK inno.N announced an agreement with Novacell Technology to acquire a novel immunotherapy candidate drug. This is a next-generation synthetic peptide that acts as an FPR2 (formyl peptide receptor 2) agonist, enhancing the body's ability to control excessive immune responses.
HK inno.N aims to develop a series of treatments for inflammatory diseases by leveraging anti-inflammatory and cell regeneration properties, includingOphthalmic diseases, skin diseases, and respiratory system diseasesThis collaboration will enable the company to further expand its immunotherapy pipeline, addressing the growing demand for immunotherapy among the aging population with weakened immune function.
GC Biopharma Collaborates with ovelty Nobility
GC Biopharma Signs Joint R&D Agreement with Novelity Noble, a South Korean Biotech Company Specializing in Antibody Drug Development, to Collaborate on TreatmentGeographic Atrophy (GA)GA is a form of advanced dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that can damage retinal tissue and lead to blindness.
According to the agreement, both parties will collaborate across all development stages, from identifying candidate antibody-based protein therapies to preclinical and clinical trials, and ultimately commercialization. In the initial phase, joint research will focus on identifying target proteins involved in GA pathology and developing candidates to inhibit them, followed by proof-of-concept studies.
Israel Innovation Authority Supports Development of Immunotherapy for Solid Tumors
Pluri Announces that the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) will fund Pluri and BIRAD (Led by Professor Cohen) to supportPlacental Mucosa-Associated Invariant T (MAIT) Cell Therapy for Solid Tumor TreatmentThe ongoing development. IIA will fund this collaboration next year, with the goal of effectively integrating innovative technologies and advancing preclinical research.
Under this collaboration, Professor Cohen developed a novel chimeric switch receptor based on Siglec (CCR) will be integrated into Pluri's CAR-MAIT cell therapy platform to significantly enhance the efficacy and tumor specificity of CAR-MAIT. By leveraging the complementary strengths of both parties, the collaboration is expected to advance the application of innovative allogeneic cell therapies in solid tumors.
In addition to the above cases, some other companies also reached different types of cooperation this week. Due to space limitations, they will not be introduced one by one here. For more licensing cooperation information this week, please click to read the original text. Insight Database "Pharmaceutical Transactions" ModuleView.
