GSK and IDEAYA Biosciences Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Novel Synthetic Lethal Cancer Therapies Targeting MAT2A, Pol Theta, and Werner Helicase

IDEAYA Biosciences and GSK Announce Strategic Collaboration in Synthetic LethalityRecently, IDEAYA Biosciences and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) jointly announced the establishment of a strategic partnership in the field of “synthetic lethality,” an emerging area in the development of oncology therapeutics.

Synthetic lethality is one of GSK’s four core research focus areas in oncology. In synthetic lethality, cells can tolerate the loss of function of a single gene, but the simultaneous loss of function of a combination of genes leads to cell death. When tumor suppressor gene function is lost in cancer, this mechanism can be leveraged to exploit tumor-specific vulnerabilities for the development of innovative therapies for cancer patients.

This strategic partnership will encompass three synthetic lethality R&D programs from IDEAYA Biosciences, targeting MAT2A, Polθ, and Werner helicase. These programs are expected to advance into clinical development within the next three years. IDEAYA has already resolved the relevant crystal structures for the MAT2A, Polθ, and Werner helicase programs, enabling structure-based drug design. Its MAT2A and Polθ programs have already achieved in vivo proof-of-concept in relevant animal models.

Under the agreement, IDEAYA will lead the early clinical development of the MAT2A program. IDEAYA will be responsible for all costs associated with the MAT2A program prior to GSK’s exercise of its option. Thereafter, IDEAYA will bear 20% of the global development costs. The two parties will also explore combinations between IDEAYA’s R&D programs and GSK’s R&D programs.

IDEAYA will receive an upfront cash payment of $100 million, as well as a $20 million equity investment. IDEAYA is also entitled to potential preclinical, clinical, and commercial milestone payments.

“GSK and IDEAYA share a common vision of leveraging synthetic lethality to bring next-generation innovative precision medicine therapies to patients, and of building a highly complementary R&D pipeline to deliver transformative benefits for patients,” said Dr. Michael Dillon, Chief Scientific Officer at IDEAYA Biosciences.

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