Gilead Sciences Secures Exclusive Rights in $848 Million Deal with Compugen for Innovative Cancer Therapy

Gilead Sciences has concluded a significant transaction with Compugen, securing exclusive rights to a preclinical IL-18 binding protein program that includes a valuable solid tumor asset. In this arrangement, Gilead is initiating the collaboration with an upfront payment of $60 million to Compugen, with additional substantial milestones expected in the future.

The disclosed agreement encompasses the initial payment, along with an additional $30 million earmarked for imminent milestones, contributing to a potential comprehensive deal value of up to $848 million. Gilead’s acquisition involves obtaining control of COM503, an antibody specifically designed to disrupt the interaction between the IL-18 binding protein and IL-18. This disruption leads to the release of natural IL-18, effectively impeding the progression of cancer.

A crucial milestone in the agreement is contingent upon the FDA granting investigational new drug clearance to COM503, an event anticipated in 2024. Subsequent to this clearance, Compugen stands to receive up to $758 million in subsequent development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, culminating in a maximum deal value of $848 million. The terms also encompass royalty considerations.

Compugen retains responsibility for the ongoing preclinical development and the phase 1 study of COM503. Following this phase, Gilead assumes the responsibility for future development initiatives and commercialization endeavors.

Notably, Compugen has an existing collaboration with AstraZeneca for rilvegostomig, an anti-PD-1/TIGIT candidate derived from Compugen’s COM902 asset. This therapy is currently undergoing a phase 1/2 trial for non-small cell lung cancer, with additional non-partnered indications including biliary tract cancer, bladder cancer, and gastric cancer.

In a separate announcement, Gilead Sciences is making a $60 million upfront payment as part of an exclusive license agreement for one of Compugen’s assets in a deal valued at $848 million. Under the agreement, Gilead will exclusively license a preclinical antibody asset from Compugen, along with the COM503 drug candidate. The latter is designed to block the interaction between IL-18 binding proteins and IL-18, releasing natural IL-18 into a tumor to halt cancer growth.

Compugen will continue to oversee the preclinical development and eventual Phase I study of the asset, after which Gilead gains the right to further develop and commercialize the COM503 candidate.

Beyond this collaboration, Gilead has been actively pursuing strategic deals in 2023. In November, through its subsidiary Kite, the company expanded its collaboration with Arcellx, evaluating the cell therapy CART-ddBCMA as a lymphoma treatment. Additionally, Kite is in negotiations to license an additional multiple myeloma program from Arcellx, involving an upfront payment of $85 million.

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