US biotech company Eikon Therapeutics has announced three in-licensing deals this week, one of which includes a partnership with China-based Impact Therapeutics. The agreement grants Eikon exclusive rights to co-develop, manufacture, and commercialize PARP1 inhibitors, including IMP1734, in markets outside of Greater China. The financial details of the licensing fee were not disclosed.
Expanding Portfolio with Seven and Eight Biopharmaceuticals and Cleave Therapeutics
Eikon also expanded its portfolio by licensing two TLR7/8 receptor agonists, BDB001 and BDB018, from US-based Seven and Eight Biopharmaceuticals. Additionally, Eikon partnered with Cleave Therapeutics for preclinical compounds targeting protein homeostasis, DNA damage repair, and chromatin remodeling, which have potential applications in treating cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Alongside these deals, Eikon completed a Series C financing round, raising USD 106 million.
Strategic Decisions Driven by Single Molecule Tracking (SMT) Technology
Eikon utilizes its proprietary Single Molecule Tracking (SMT) technology to inform strategic decisions regarding its drug pipeline. This technology applies super-resolution microscopy to tag proteins and monitor their interactions with cells. After discussions with a total of 30 biotechs, Eikon selected the three firms, focusing specifically on Impact’s PARP1 inhibitor pipeline due to its potential for being a less toxic target than PARP2 or PARP1/2 inhibition.
Collaborative Development and Future Plans
Eikon and Impact will collaborate on the development of the pre-clinical stage IMP1734 and other PARP1 inhibitors, with an Investigational New Drug (IND) application planned for Q3 this year, as stated by Eikon CEO Roger Perlmutter. Impact’s lead pipeline candidate, the PARP1/2 inhibitor senaparib (IMP4297), is currently in Phase III trials for ovarian cancer.-Fineline Info & Tech
