Amgen, CytomX Enter Strategic Alliance To Dig Deeper Into I-O

ext-align: center;">Amgen, CytomX Enter Strategic Alliance To Dig Deeper Into I-O

California-based multinational pharmaceutical firm, Amgen has now partnered with CytomX Therapeutics to develop and commercialize new immuno-oncology drugs.

The companies will co-develop a CytomX Probody™ T-cell engaging bispecific against the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), a highly validated oncology target expressed on multiple human cancer types. Probody T-cell engaging bispecifics are antibody constructs capable of directing cytotoxic T-cells in tumor microenvironments. In preclinical studies, CytomX’s Probody versions of EGFRxCD3 bispecific therapeutics induced tumor regressions and increased the therapeutic window for this high potential cancer target.

The collaboration orbits around CytomX’s Probody platform, which aims to deliver toxic drugs specifically to tumors rather than healthy cells. The companies plan to use the platform to develop a T-cell engaging bispecific targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and CD3-receptors that play a role in tumor progression and immune response, respectively. Terms of the deal also give Amgen exclusive rights to as many as three additional targets.

On the biobucks side, CytomX can look forward to $455 million for the EGFR program, and while Amgen will lead global sales activities, CytomX can opt into a profit share in the U.S. and receive tiered, double-digit royalties on net product sales outside of the U.S.

And there’s more: Amgen also gets exclusive worldwide rights to develop and sell up to three additional but as-yet-undisclosed targets. Should Amgen go for all three, CytomX could get up to $950 million in additional upfront and milestone payments, as well as royalties.

In the release, the companies expanded on the agreement:

Amgen will also receive exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize up to three additional, undisclosed targets. Should Amgen ultimately pursue all of these targets, CytomX will be eligible to receive up to $950 million in additional upfront and milestone payments and high single-digit to mid-double digit royalty payments on any resulting products. CytomX will also receive the rights from Amgen to an undisclosed preclinical T-cell engaging bispecific program; Amgen is eligible to receive milestones and royalty payments on any resulting products from this CytomX program.

“Our collaboration with CytomX leverages Amgen’s development leadership in bispecifics and expands our immuno-oncology capabilities with an additional and complementary bispecific technology,” said Sean E. Harper, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. “EGFR is a particularly compelling target on which to employ the CytomX Probody platform given its potential to localize activity within tumors while limiting potential toxicity.”

“Probody-based T-cell engaging bispecific antibodies offer significant potential in treating cancers by employing localized therapeutic activity within tumor tissue,” said Sean McCarthy, D.Phil., president and chief executive officer of CytomX Therapeutics. “Through this collaboration, we are positioned to combine Amgen’s industry-leading expertise in leveraging bispecifics to activate a patient’s immune-system with CytomX’s ability to design potent new therapies that exploit unique conditions in the tumor microenvironment. Development of Probody-based T-cell engaging bispecifics further validates the broad applicability of the Probody platform in addressing unmet needs in oncology.“