Boehringer Ingelheim and OSE Immunotherapeutics announced a worldwide collaboration and license agreement to jointly develop OSE-172, a SIRP-alpha antagonist targeting myeloid lineage cells.
SIRP-alpha is a receptor expressed by myeloid lineage cells such as dendritic cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. In targeting SIRP- alpha, OSE-172 prevents the ligand CD47 from binding to and triggering the cellular inhibitory effects of SIRP-alpha.
OSE-172 has the potential to enhance anti-tumor immunity by improving T cell activity through enhancement of DC antigen presentation functionality, potentiating the phagocytic and inflammatory properties of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment and enabling differentiation of MDSCs to an effector state.
Boehringer Ingelheim has acquired the global rights to develop, register, and commercialize OSE-172, a monoclonal antibody targeting SIRP-alpha which is expressed in myeloid lineage cells, as part of their continued commitment to research and innovation in immuno-oncology.
Under the agreement, OSE Immunotherapeutics will receive a €15 million upfront payment from Boehringer Ingelheim, and potential additional short-term milestones of up to €15 million upon initiation of a phase 1 clinical study. OSE Immunotherapeutics stands to receive more than €1.1 billion upon reaching pre-specified development, commercialization and sales milestones, plus royalties on worldwide net sales.
Neoepitopes innovation (Tedopi) is in phase III in advanced lung cancers after checkpoint inhibitors failure (anti PD-1 and anti PD-L1). An option to license was exercised in July 2016 by Janssen Biotech to continue clinical development of FR104 (an anti CD28 mAb) in auto-immune diseases after positive phase I results.
A two-step license option was signed in 2017 with Servier Laboratories to develop OSE-127 (Effi-7) up to the completion of a phase 2 clinical trial planned in autoimmune bowel disease and Sjogren’s syndrome.
