Pfizer Is Back In The CTLA-4 Game Via Pact With OncoImmune

Pfizer bought an option to license OncoImmune’s anti-CTLA-4 antibody ONC-392 five years after out-licensing its own internal candidate tremelimumab to AstraZeneca following a study failure.

White blood cells in peripheral blood smear, Wright stain

Pfizer Inc. is returning to its cancer immunotherapy roots in a pact with OncoImmune Inc. that will give the big pharma an option to license a preclinical anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody. Pfizer agreed to pay $250m in upfront and potential milestones for the option to license ONC-392, which could be less toxic than first generation CTLA-4s.

The deal is tantamount to Pfizer admitting it made a mistake out-licensing its own CTLA-4 inhibitor tremelimumab to AstraZeneca...