Menarini Group Expands Oncology Portfolio with New AI-Driven Licensing Partnership

Menarini Group and Insilico Medicine's New Collaboration in Oncology

In a significant leap forward in the treatment of cancer, Menarini Group, a major international pharmaceutical and diagnostics company, and Insilico Medicine, a pioneering generative artificial intelligence-driven biotechnology firm, have announced a new licensing agreement. This collaboration grants Menarini's subsidiary, Stemline Therapeutics, exclusive global rights to develop and market a preclinical small molecule specifically designed to meet complex needs in oncology.

This latest partnership is particularly noteworthy as it marks the second licensing opportunity between the two companies. It follows the successful agreement established in January 2024, wherein Menarini in-licensed MEN2312, a small molecule designed for breast cancer and other oncology applications. The asset resulting from their recent collaboration is recognized for its high selectivity and potential as a best-in-class inhibitor targeting a wide range of solid tumors.

According to the agreement, Menarini Group will provide an upfront payment of $20 million to Insilico, bringing the total estimated value of the deal to over $550 million once development, regulatory, and commercial milestones are met. Furthermore, Menarini will pay Insilico tiered royalties based on the success of the asset in clinical applications.

Elcin Barker Ergun, CEO of Menarini Group, expressed enthusiasm about this collaboration, stating, "We are thrilled to enter our second collaboration with Insilico Medicine, a leader in the field of generative AI, for a highly selective and potentially best-in-class small molecule targeting a broad range of cancers. This asset will help us enter into new areas of high unmet need, expanding the tumor areas where we can help cancer patients with groundbreaking therapies."

The innovative product has been developed using Insilico's Chemistry42, a cutting-edge generative chemistry engine, in combination with a dedicated drug discovery team. The newly developed molecule has already undergone successful preclinical development, showing promising broad anti-tumor activity against specific cancers.

Alex Zhavoronkov, Ph.D., the founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine, highlighted the efficiency and strategic focus exhibited by Menarini and its subsidiary Stemline Therapeutics. He stated, "Our previous experience with Menarini Stemline proved that the company is efficient, agile, strategic, and committed to rapidly delivering the best novel therapeutic solutions to patients with cancer, maximizing the probability of success of the program."

Insilico Medicine is known for its advanced AI technologies that comprise deep generative models and reinforcement learning techniques. These sophisticated tools enable the company to discover novel pharmaceutical targets and construct molecular structures that possess desirable characteristics, ultimately leading to new drug development.

Menarini Group, with over $4.7 billion in turnover and a robust workforce of more than 17,000 employees worldwide, is heavily focused on addressing therapeutic areas with pressing unmet needs, including oncology, cardiology, and pneumology.

As part of this new agreement, Stemline will leverage its existing oncology market insights while advancing its comprehensive pipeline that already includes various oncology therapies such as ORSERDU® and ELZONRIS®. With the backing of Insilico's generative AI technology, the collaboration is set to redefine cancer treatment paradigms, offering hope for patients and healthcare providers amidst persistent challenges in this critical medical field.

In conclusion, the latest collaboration between Menarini Group and Insilico Medicine is a pivotal development for oncology, showcasing the potential of AI in drug discovery and the commitment of both companies to address significant healthcare needs. As they embark on this journey to develop groundbreaking therapies, the oncology landscape may soon witness transformative advancements, making strides in the fight against cancer.