AbbVie in immuno-oncology agreement with biotech
Pharmaceutical company AbbVie has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with biotech group Argenx to develop and commercialise immuno-oncology antibody ARGX-115.
Under the agreement, which was announced yesterday, AbbVie will gain a worldwide exclusive licence in relation to the antibody.
Argenx said that ARGX-115 is thought to selectively limit immunosuppressive activity, stimulating the immune system to attack cancer cells.
The antibody was discovered by the biotech in collaboration with Belgian academic institutions the Université Catholique de Louvain, the de Duve Institute and WELBIO, in 2013.
The ARGX-115 antibody “binds specifically to the protein glycoprotein A repetitions predominant, which plays a key role in the regulation of production and release of active transforming growth factor beta”, the biotech explained.
AbbVie and Argenx entered into an option and licence agreement for ARGX-115 in April 2016.
Yesterday, Argenx explained, AbbVie exercised the option to obtain the exclusive right to develop and commercialise ARGX-115-based products.
Tom Hudson, vice president of oncology early discovery and development at AbbVie, said that immuno-oncology is one of the company’s key focus areas.
“Our collaboration with Argenx over the past two years has been productive, and we look forward to continue working together to fuel scientific progress for patients,” he said.
Tim Van Hauwermeiren, CEO of Argenx, said: “We are very excited by AbbVie’s decision to exercise its option to license and develop ARGX-115, given its compelling track record in oncology.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Argenx may receive milestone payments of up to $625 million, as well as tiered royalties on sales of approved ARGX-115-based products.
Argenx has retained the right to co-promote ARGX-115-based products in the EU and Swiss Economic Area.
This is the latest in a number of oncology-related collaborations and agreements so far this year.
Last month, Sanofi partnered with biotechnology company Revolution Medicines in a $50 million deal to develop treatments for multiple cancers.
In May, Eli Lilly announced plans to buy immuno-oncology firm Armo BioSciences for $1.6 billion, and in the same week it shared its intentions to buy another oncology company based in Montreal.
Meanwhile, Shire sold its oncology business to France-based Servier in April for $2.4 billion, and in February, Bristol-Myers Squibb agreed to pay $1.8 billion to develop and commercialise Nektar Therapeutics’ lead immuno-oncology programme.
Other collaborations in the oncology field in 2018 have included Pfizer and Allogene; and Kite Pharma and Sangamo Therapeutics.
Did you enjoy reading this story? Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories sent like this straight to your inbox.
