Gilead (NASDAQ: GILD) has licensed a potential first-in-class IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) targeting antibody candidate from cancer immunotherapy developer Compugen (NASDAQ: CGEN), which is currently in the pre-clinical stage. Gilead will assume development responsibilities from Phase II onwards and will pay USD 60 million upfront, with up to USD 788 million in milestone payments and potential sales royalties.
Compugen’s biologic works by blocking the interaction between IL-18BP and IL-18, thereby promoting the release of IL-18 into the tumor microenvironment to enhance immune-mediated killing of cancer cells.
Compugen’s pipeline also includes two pre-clinical antibody programs targeting PVRIG and TIGIT, several early-stage immuno-oncology programs, and an anti-PD-1/TIGIT bispecific antibody (BsAb) AZD2936 that is in late-stage development due to a partnership with AstraZeneca (AZ, NASDAQ: AZN).- Flcube.com
