▎WuXiEdited by Kant Content Team

IFM Therapeutics today announced that Novartis has exercised its option to acquire IFM Due.This acquisition will give Novartis full rights to IFM Due's STING antagonist portfolio, which has the potential to treat a range of severe inflammation-driven diseases characterized by excessive activation of interferon and other pro-inflammatory cytokine signaling.

The cGAS-STING pathway plays a role in the innate immune system by detecting cytoplasmic DNA (cellular danger signals) and initiating STING-dependent inflammatory responses. Abnormal activation of this pathway due to mutations or mitochondrial dysfunction can lead to excessive interferon/cytokine signaling, resulting in the occurrence of various severe inflammatory diseases.

IFM Due is a subsidiary of IFM Therapeutics, focusing on developing small-molecule oral drug candidates for abnormal inflammatory responses of the innate immune system triggered by the cGAS-STING pathway.In September 2019, the company signed an option and collaboration agreement with Novartis, under which Novartis fully funded the costs for IFM Due, Inc. to develop the cGAS-STING project in exchange for the option to acquire IFM Due, Inc.

According to the agreement,IFM will receive a $90 million upfront payment and is eligible for up to $745 million in milestone payments, totaling $835 million.

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References:

[1] Novartis Acquires IFM Due to Develop First-In-Class STING Antagonist Program Targeting Innate Immune System. Retrieved March 13, 2024 from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novartis-acquires-ifm-due-to-develop-first-in-class-sting-antagonist-program-targeting-innate-immune-system-302087547.html

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