Ichnos Glenmark and AbbVie Collaborate on Innovative Cancer Therapy Licensing
Ichnos Glenmark Innovation and AbbVie Launch Partnership for ISB 2001 License
In an exciting development in the field of oncology, Ichnos Glenmark Innovation, a fully owned subsidiary of Ichnos Glenmark Innovation, Inc. (IGI) based in New York, and AbbVie, a global biopharmaceutical leader in North Chicago, Illinois, announced an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement for ISB 2001. This innovative product is a first-in-class trispecific antibody targeting CD38, BCMA, and CD3, designed for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM). This collaboration aims to improve therapeutic outcomes in a disease area with significant unmet need.
The Potential of ISB 2001
ISB 2001 is currently undergoing Phase 1 clinical trials and leverages IGI's proprietary BEAT® protein platform, a sophisticated technology that enables the development of advanced multispecific therapies. According to Dr. Roopal Thakkar, Executive Vice-President of Research and Development at AbbVie, multispecific antibodies like ISB 2001 represent a critical evolution in immuno-oncology. Dr. Thakkar stated, “These antibodies have the potential to deliver deeper, more durable responses by engaging multiple targets simultaneously, making this partnership crucial in addressing the major challenges faced in the treatment of multiple myeloma.”
Dr. Cyril Konto, President and CEO of IGI, echoed this sentiment by emphasizing the significance of this agreement as a crucial step forward for the company and its innovative science. He stated, “ISB 2001 exemplifies the potential of our BEAT® platform to generate effective multispecifics that may overcome resistance and improve outcomes in hard-to-treat cancers.”
Financial Aspects of the Agreement
Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will be granted exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize ISB 2001 in key international markets, including North America, Europe, Japan, and Greater China. IGI is set to receive an impressive upfront payment of $700 million, alongside potential milestone payments reaching up to $1.225 billion related to the development, regulatory approval, and commercialization of ISB 2001. Furthermore, IGI will benefit from tiered, double-digit royalties on net sales of the product.
Clinical Progress and Regulatory Milestones
ISB 2001 has shown promising early results, with data from 35 heavily pretreated patients indicating a sustained overall response rate (ORR) of 79%. Additionally, the treatment yielded a high complete response rate of 30% at active doses equal to or greater than 50 µg/kg. Given these outcomes, ISB 2001 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and received Fast Track Designation, both of which are pivotal for expedited development for patients suffering from relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
The BEAT® Platform Innovation
IGI's proprietary BEAT® protein platform has addressed traditional limitations encountered in the engineering of bispecific antibodies. This innovative approach utilizes a common light chain library alongside a TCR interface-based heavy chain pairing strategy, enabling the development of next-generation immune cell engagers. Unlike many engineered formats, BEAT® effectively mirrors the architecture of natural antibodies through the integration of both light and heavy chains, ensuring enhanced stability and functionality.
The multifaceted capabilities of the BEAT® platform allow researchers to design antibodies that can effectively engage multiple immune cell types against various antigens, thereby displaying formidable potential in oncology. The optimization and engineering processes within the BEAT® system lead to low immunogenicity, extended half-lives, and sustainable production levels, which are critical for effective treatment delivery.
The Future of Oncology with Ichnos Glenmark and AbbVie
As IGI and AbbVie embark on this transformative journey together, their partnership holds promise not only for the development of ISB 2001 but also for advancing a plethora of innovative therapies poised to reshape cancer care. With a shared vision of meeting unmet medical needs, these organizations are committed to developing groundbreaking solutions that could elevate treatment standards and improve patient outcomes in the fight against challenging malignancies.
For those seeking more information, Ichnos Glenmark and AbbVie continue to share updates on their research advances, focusing on delivering meaningful therapies that bolster the quality of life for cancer patients globally.