Gilead Sciences and Kymera Therapeutics have entered into a partnership worth as much as $750m to develop a molecular glue degrader (MGD) programme with “broad oncology treatment potential”.
The exclusive option and licence agreement will focus on accelerating the development and commercialisation of Kymera’s oral candidates, which could be used to treat breast cancer and other solid tumours.
The drugs are designed to selectively remove CDK2, a key contributor in tumour growth, from cells rather than just suppressing its function like traditional inhibitors do.
Flavius Martin, executive vice president, research, Gilead, said: “MGDs are opening exciting new possibilities in cancer research by offering a way to eliminate disease-driving proteins rather than just blocking them.”
He continued: “We are delighted to partner with Kymera to advance this novel oral programme with the potential to drive meaningful improvements in the standard of care for patients living with breast cancer and other cancers that are inadequately served with existing therapies.”
The candidates have already “demonstrated a compelling preclinical profile and have the potential to transform the therapeutic landscape for breast cancer patients and other tumour types with high unmet medical need,” according to Kymera’s founder, president and chief executive officer, Nello Mainolfi.
The agreement will see Gilead pay Kymera up to $750m, including up to $85m in upfront and potential option exercise payments, with Kymera also in line for tiered royalties on net product sales under the collaboration.
Kymera will lead all research activities for the CDK2 programme. If Gilead exercises its option to exclusively license the programme, it will have worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise all products resulting from the alliance.
“We are excited to work with the talented Gilead team to accelerate the development and commercialisation of this important programme,” Mainolfi said.
The deal is not Gilead’s first of the year, after it entered into a strategic partnership with LEO Pharma to advance a small molecule oral STAT6 programme for inflammatory diseases.
The agreement, worth $1.7bn, gave Gilead global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise LEO’s oral STAT6 programme. Meanwhile, LEO holds exclusive global rights to STAT6 topical formulations in dermatology, and has the option to co-commercialise oral programmes for dermatology indications outside the US.