PARTNERING
Turning Point announced licensing of clinical anti-Claudin18.2 ADC LM-302 from LaNova Medicines
Turning Point Therapeutics has entered into an exclusive license agreement with LaNova Medicines to develop and commercialize LM-302, a novel ADC targeting Claudin18.2, in the US and rest of the world, excluding Greater China and South Korea. Claudin18.2 is a protein expressed in many gastrointestinal cancers, including gastric, gastroesophageal junction and pancreatic cancer. LM-302, which going forward will be identified as TPX-4589, is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials in both the US and China. LaNova will receive an upfront payment of $25 million and will be eligible to receive up to an additional $195 million in development and regulatory milestone payments; in addition, LaNova is eligible to receive commercial sales milestones, and tiered royalties ranging from mid-single digit to mid-teens percentages on net sales. As part of the agreement, both parties agreed to potentially broaden the partnership by collaborating on up to three additional ADC programs. TPX-4589 (LM-302) is a potentially first-in-class anti-Claudin18.2 ADC discovered by LaNova that suppresses cell proliferation of gastric and pancreatic cell lines with nanomolar potency in preclinical models. It also has demonstrated efficacy in gastric and pancreatic cancer xenograft models.
Gilead and Dragonfly announced collaboration to develop NK cell engagers
Gilead and Dragonfly Therapeutics announced a collaboration designed to advance a number of Dragonfly's novel NK cell engager-based immunotherapies for oncology and inflammation indications. Gilead will receive an exclusive, worldwide license from Dragonfly for the 5T4-targeting investigational immunotherapy program, DF7001. The agreement also grants Gilead options, after the completion of certain preclinical activities, to license exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize additional NK cell engager programs using the Dragonfly Tri-specific NK Engager (TriNKET) platform. DF7001 is a TriNKET designed to activate and direct NK and cytotoxic T cell killing against cancer cells. It has the potential to trigger the killing of 5T4+ expressing cells, including tumor cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts and cancer stem cells. The program is on track for filing an IND application in the first half of 2023.
