Biopharmaceutical firm Lycera has entered an exclusive strategic collaboration with Celgene to advance the development of its proprietary pipeline for cancer and immune-mediated diseases.
The partnership will advance development of Lycera’s novel pipeline, including first-in-class RORgamma agonists for cancer immunotherapy and clinical-stage candidate, LYC-30937, being studied for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
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As part of the deal, Lycera will provide an $82.5m upfront cash payment, which comprises an exclusive option for Celgene to license Lycera’s portfolio of ex-vivo RORgamma agonist compounds.
The deal will also allow Lycera to receive near term payments of an additional $22.5m associated with the ex-vivo licensing option rights.
In addition, the deal provides Celgene exclusive rights to acquire Lycera upon conclusion of the option period or achievement by Lycera of pre-specified clinical milestones.
Lycera president and CEO Paul Sekhri said: "We are excited to be working with Celgene, as we share a commitment to develop disruptive scientific approaches that can translate into disease-altering medicines for patients."
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By GlobalDataLycera has detected selective and potent oral agonists that target RORgamma, offering potential treatments for a broad range of cancers.
It has developed orally bioavailable RORgamma agonists that are said to demonstrate single agent therapeutic activity in multiple animal models of cancer.
Under the deal with Celgene, Lycera will continue to focus development of its lead programme, LYC-30937, an oral gut-directed ATPase modulator currently in Phase I clinical studies.
The LYC-30937 is being developed to treat IBD, helping deliver significant disease improvement without global immune suppression.
The collaboration will continue to advance Lycera’s other programmes, including a Rho-associated protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) inhibitor.
Image: Micrograph showing inflammation of the large bowel in a case of inflammatory bowel disease. Photo: courtesy of Nephron.
