IMU's Dr Alex Hoos in GSK deal for another immune system based oncology drug

Extract from article:
“GSK’s R&D approach focuses on the science of the immune system and I am excited to add a natural killer cell approach, such as SRF813, as it complements our existing programs focused on T cell/adaptive immunity,” said Axel Hoos, the head of oncology R&D at GSK, in a prepared statement. “We’re making great progress to build an exciting pipeline of new oncology therapies with transformational potential for patients.”

From ENDPOINTS News USA December 17 2020

GlaxoSmithKline plumbs the discovery field (again), betting up to $815M for the latest add-on to its oncology pipeline

John Carroll

Editor & Founder

Five years after Novartis stepped up with a sizable deal that gave them worldwide rights to Surface Oncology’s lead cancer drug, GlaxoSmithKline is coming in at the other end of the pipeline, snagging a preclinical natural killer drug designed to whip up a more effective attack on cancer cells.

Unlike a lot of the preclinical collaborations we’ve seen, GSK is also freighting this with a significant amount of cash: $85 million upfront plus $730 million in milestones. And they see this new addition to the oncology pipeline as a prime candidate for future combos — all the rage these days.

In return they get the worldwide rights to SRF813, an “IgG1 antibody targeting PVRIG (also known as CD112R), an inhibitory protein expressed on natural killer cells (NK cells) and T cells.” And that puts them in the same NK zone where you’ll find a group of hot anti-TIGITs.

The deal splashed cold water on some buzz dating back a few months ago that $GSK was looking to acquire Surface. It also highlights the work that Compugen $CGEN has done in the clinic with a rival PVRIG candidate being discussed as a combo with TIGIT and PD-1, though the data are very early stage.

The move comes a few weeks past Hal Barron’s third anniversary as R&D chief at GSK, where he’s made oncology the key focus while discounting fields like respiratory and restructuring vaccines ahead of the pandemic. Under his guidance, GSK bought out a battered Tesaro and added PARP to the portfolio. And he’s struck some intriguing high-dollar discovery deals like this latest pickup from Cambridge, MA-based Surface — while also partnering with Rick Klausner’s Lyell — as he focused on next-gen cell therapies.

One of the assets Barron picked up from Tesaro included the umpteenth anti-PD1, where they see potential in adding this new drug. There’s also an anti-CD96 that’s in the mix for combination approaches here.

“GSK’s R&D approach focuses on the science of the immune system and I am excited to add a natural killer cell approach, such as SRF813, as it complements our existing programs focused on T cell/adaptive immunity,” said Axel Hoos, the head of oncology R&D at GSK, in a prepared statement. “We’re making great progress to build an exciting pipeline of new oncology therapies with transformational potential for patients.” ( My Emphasis)

The PARP acquisition as well as its first new drug OK in BCMA — the ADC Blenrep, formerly known as belantamab mafodotin — which came with some big toxicity issues in a densely-crowded field, have left analysts feeling a little flat about the pharma giant’s late-stage pipeline, without a lot to stir much excitement.

Those issues have been reflected in GSK’s stock price, which has suffered throughout a dramatically challenging year.

AUTHOR

John Carroll

Editor & Founder