Small interfering RNA (siRNA) gained another vote of confidence, albeit back end-loaded, from big pharma as privately held Adarx Pharmaceuticals Inc. signed a deal with Abbvie Inc. related to disease areas that include neuroscience, immunology, and oncology.
Parvus Therapeutics Inc. has announced the achievement of a milestone under its collaboration with Abbvie Inc. to develop treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). PVT-401, a novel peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) nanomedicine (Navacim) drug candidate, has met prospective nonclinical pharmacology and manufacturing criteria.
Transferrin receptor (TfR)-mediated transcytosis is a receptor-mediated mechanism for drug delivery to the brain or other tissues, where, after the antibody binds to transferrin, the therapeutic agent is internalized and released into the brain.
Relacorilant, a cortisol modulator from Corcept Therapeutics Inc., produced new and strong phase III results in treating platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The company also has relacorilant in studies that could eventually lead to approval in other indications. In the near term, though, the positive data led to the company’s stock (NASDAQ:CORT) closing 109% higher at $114.22 per share on March 31.
Abbvie Inc. is buying into the obesity fray in a potential $1.875 billion development and commercialization agreement with Danish peptide drug discovery specialist Gubra A/S. In addition, there will be a $350 million up-front payment as Abbvie takes over the reins of GUB-014295 (referred to as Gubamy), a long-acting analog of the satiety hormone amylin, currently in phase I development.
Xilio Therapeutics Inc. has announced three wholly owned preclinical programs for masked T-cell engagers targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) and six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 1 (STEAP1).
Xilio Therapeutics Inc. is banking $52 million up front from Abbvie Inc., including a $10 million equity investment, plus about $2.1 billion in contingent payments for option-related fees and milestones, plus tiered royalties, as the pair embarks on developing tumor-activated, antibody-based immunotherapies, including masked T-cell engagers.
As the number of mega-mergers have increased in recent years, and the purchase price of innovative companies rises, it is apparent that many lucrative buyouts fail to meet expectations, although a few outperform from time to time.
Neomorph Inc. has signed another billion-dollar deal to develop molecular glue degraders, this time with Abbvie Inc. It’s the third agreement in the past year the five-year-old company has signed with big pharma companies in a space with lots of collaborative deals.
Abbvie Inc. and Simcere Zaiming Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. are part of the volley of large deals accompanying the opening of the 43rd annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco. The two have agreed to develop SIM-0500, a humanized GPRC5D-BCMA-CD3 trispecific antibody, which is in phase I studies in the U.S. and China to treat refractory multiple myeloma.
