BI, OSE in $1.3-Billion-Plus Immuno-Oncology Deal

Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) and OSE Immunotherapeutics, a Nantes, France-headquartered biopharmaceutical company developing immunotherapies, have signed a worldwide collaboration and license agreement to jointly develop OSE-172, a signal regulatory protein (SIRP)-alpha antagonist targeting myeloid lineage cells.

SIRP-alpha is a receptor expressed by myeloid lineage cells, such as dendritic cells (DCs), tumor-associated macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). In targeting SIRP-alpha, OSE-172 prevents the ligand CD47 from binding to and triggering the cellular inhibitory effects of SIRP-alpha, according to information from BI. 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, according to BI.

BI 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 its continued commitment to research and innovation in immuno-oncology. Under the agreement, OSE will receive a EUR 15 million ($18 million) upfront payment from BI and potential additional short-term milestones of up to €15 million ($18 million) upon initiation of a Phase I clinical study. OSE stands to receive more than EUR 1.1 billion ($1.3 billion) upon reaching pre-specified development, commercialization and sales milestones, plus royalties on worldwide net sales.

Source: Boehringer Ingelheim

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *