GSK signs £64m autoimmune antibody deal
pharmafile | January 7, 2011 | News story | Research and Development | GSK, GlaxoSmithKline, ImmuTune IMP731, Immutep, autoimmune diseases
GlaxoSmithKline has signed a worldwide licence agreement for a novel antibody designed to treat autoimmune diseases.
The company will pay up to £64 million to get exclusive access to Immutep’s ImmuTune IMP731 – plus other antibodies that deplete Lymphocyte Activation Gene-3 (LAG-3) positive cells.
GSK takes on all development responsibility and costs for IMP731, a cytotoxic antibody that attacks the activated T-cells which are a key element of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis (MS).
Rather than blocking one of their functions (such as production of TNF-a, IL-6 or IL-23) IMP731 is designed to delete activated pathogenic T-cells altogether, thus offering a new approach.
“We are very pleased to hand over the development of IMP731 to GSK, with its commitment to bringing breakthrough therapies to patients,” said Immutep’s chief executive John Hawken.
One of the drug’s potential benefits would be to provide long-term effects with the least possible number of injections
And the company says selective depletion of pathogenic LAG-3+ T-cells will lead to targeted immunosuppression, sparing resting T-cells while eliminating pathogenic activated ones.
This in turn should come with a reduced risk of susceptibility to infection for patients.
The therapy, which has had some success at low doses in preclinical models of T-cell mediated inflammation, is now ready for a phase IIb/III trial in the chemo-immunotherapy of first-line metastatic cancer, Immutep adds.
The money Immutep will receive – which could also include royalties if all milestones are met – will enable it to channel its efforts into advancing its potential oncology treatments IMP321 and IMP701, says Hawken.
GSK is already active in autoimmune diseases, announcing last September the development of a subcutaneous delivery of its cancer drug ofatumumab for MS.
It has been working on the drug, marketed as Arzerra, with Danish biotech company Genmab since 2006.
Adam Hill
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