GSK expands immunology pipeline by acquiring Chimagen’s CMG1A46 in deal worth $850m

GSK has announced that it will be expanding its immunology pipeline by acquiring a clinical-stage T cell-engager from Chimagen Biosciences in a deal worth $850m.GSK said it plans to develop and commercialise CMG1A46 with a focus on B cell-driven autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis, adding that the drug could be expanded into related autoimmune diseases.The candidate is currently in early-stage clinical trials in leukaemia and lymphoma, with GSK aiming to begin a phase 1 lupus trial in 2025.The agreement will see GSK pay $300m upfront to acquire full global rights to CMG1A46, and Chimagen will be eligible to receive success-based development and commercial milestone payments totalling $550m.Affecting approximately five million people worldwide, lupus occurs when the immune system attacks healthy tissue, resulting in symptoms such as inflammation, pain, extreme fatigue and hair loss. There are four main types of the disease and SLE accounts for around 70% of all cases. CMG1A46 is directed at CD20, an established target in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, as well as CD19, which has shown promise as a differentiated therapeutic approach given its presence on more B cell types. Read

In Other News

Researchers develop promising new genetic breast cancer model: A Michigan State University researcher's new model for studying breast cancer could help scientists better understand why and where cancer metastasizes.Professor who teaches in the MSU Department of Physiology, has been researching the E2F5 gene, of which little is known, and its role in the development of?breast cancer. Based on findings from Andrechek's lab, the loss of E2F5 results in altered regulation of Cyclin D1, a protein linked to metastatic breast tumors after long latency. Read

Sanofi and Regeneron’s Dupixent (dupilumab) has been approved by the European Commission (EC) to treat eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) in young patients.The drug has been specifically authorised for use in children aged one to 11 years who weigh at least 15kg and are inadequately controlled by, intolerant to, or are not candidates for conventional medicinal therapy.Dupixent, which is already approved by the regulator to treat EoE in patients aged 12 years and older, is now the first and only medicine in the EU indicated for use in this younger patient population. Read

Biomedical engineers from the University of Melbourne have invented a 3D printing system, or bioprinter, capable of fabricating structures that closely mimic the diverse tissues in the human body, from soft brain tissue to harder materials like cartilage and bone.This cutting-edge technology offers cancer researchers an advanced tool for replicating specific organs and tissues, significantly improving the potential to predict and develop new pharmaceutical therapies. This would pave the way for more advanced and ethical drug discovery by reducing the need for animal testing. Read

Novo Nordisk and Ascendis Pharma have partnered to develop therapies for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, including a once-monthly GLP-1 receptor agonist that will initially target type 2 diabetes and obesity.Ascendis will be eligible to receive up to $285m in upfront, development and regulatory milestone payments for the lead GLP-1 programme, as well as sales-based milestone payments and tiered royalties on global net sales. Read

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has announced that its pan-FGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor Balversa (erdafitinib) has been granted marketing authorisation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to treat a subset of bladder cancer patients.The drug has been approved as an oral monotherapy for adults with unresectable or metastatic cases of urothelial carcinoma (UC), the most common form of the disease, who are harbouring susceptible FGFR3 genetic alterations. Read

Characterizing vitamin D deficiency effects on bone density in a rare metabolic disorder where patients must avoid sun: Erasmus University Medical Center researchers in Rotterdam have tracked vitamin D supplementation improvements in bone mineral density among patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria.Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder affecting heme biosynthesis, leading to lifelong painful phototoxic reactions starting in childhood. Read

AstraZeneca’s Fasenra (benralizumab) has been approved by the European Commission (EC) to treat eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), a rare immune-mediated inflammatory disease that affects approximately 118,000 people globally. The drug has been specifically authorised by the regulator for use as an add-on treatment for adults with relapsing or refractory disease. Read

Novartis’ Scemblix (asciminib) has been granted accelerated approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat a new subset of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) patients. The STAMP inhibitor has been authorised to treat adults with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive CML in the chronic phase (Ph-positive CML-CP), increasing the population eligible for the drug by approximately four times. Read

Novo Nordisk has shared promising results from a late-stage study of semaglutide in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a progressive metabolic disease that affects the liver. The ongoing ESSENCE trial has been evaluating the GLP-1 receptor agonist in adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and moderate-to-advanced liver fibrosis. Read

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