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

 
• By Jessica Merrill

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 a first-in-class method to release natural IL-18 in the tumor microenvironment to inhibit cancer growth

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 new drug (IND) application for COM503 by the US Food and Drug Administration, expected in 2024

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