Gilead Gets License To Compugen’s Potential First-In-Class IL-18 Target For Cancer

The company will pay $60m for rights to the preclinical asset COM503, which could be a new type of immuno-oncology drug.

tumor microenvironment — Gilead signed a deal with Compugen for an early novel immuno-oncology asset • Source: Shutterstock

Gilead Sciences, Inc. has partnered with Compugen Ltd. on the development and commercialization of a preclinical asset that could be a new kind of cancer immunotherapy. Gilead agreed to pay $60m up front for rights to Compugen’s COM503, which is a potential first-in-class antibody that blocks the interaction between IL-18 binding protein and IL-18, releasing natural IL-18 in the tumor microenvironment to inhibit cancer growth.

Key Takeaways

Gilead agreed to pay $60m up front for rights to Compugen’s COM503 for solid tumors.
The drug is only in preclinical development, but it could be...

The companies announced the collaboration on 19 December, under which Gilead will pay $60m up front and another $30m in near-term milestone payments subject to the clearance of an investigational...

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