Gilead (NASDAQ: GILD) has strengthened its 2020 collaboration agreement with US-based Arcus Biosciences (NYSE: RCUS) by amending it to accelerate their joint program on the anti-TIGIT monoclonal antibody (mAb) domvanalimab. The amendment includes an additional investment of USD 320 million, which increases Gilead’s ownership stake in Arcus to 33% and secures a seat on the Arcus board.
The new funds are intended to facilitate the completion of recruitment in late-stage trials for domvanalimab in lung and gastrointestinal cancers, as well as to initiate a new Phase III study for domvanalimab in combination with the anti-PD-1 candidate zimberelimab for lung cancer. However, the prioritization of these trials will lead to the discontinuation of enrollment in a late-stage study for the combination therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The announcement reflects Gilead’s confidence in the TIGIT target, which has been bolstered by last year’s positive Phase II results for the combination of domvanalimab and zimberelimab in NSCLC and gastric cancers.- Flcube.com
