Gilead and MacroGenics Strike Potential $1.7 billion Collaboration Over Bispecific Antibodies

Gilead Sciences and MacroGenics announced an exclusive agreement between the two companies for the development of MGD024, a bispecific antibody. The development of MGD024 will occur alongside two other bispecific antibodies.

The deal entails a $60 million upfront payment by Gilead to MacroGenics, with eligibility for payments totaling $1.7 billion based on certain milestones.

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The $1.7 billion Collaboration for Bispecific Antibodies

Bispecific antibodies possess two separate binding sites aimed at different antigens or epitopes on the same antigen. In the case of MGD024, the antibody binds to CD123 and CD3. Both are biomarkers in treating various leukemias, with MGD024 intended for use in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). 

MacroGenics possesses the DART platform, a platform specifically designed around creating bispecific antibodies. This platform is responsible for Gilead enlisting MacroGenics’ expertise in the creation of their potential blood cancer bispecific antibody. 

On Gilead’s choice of partnership, Bill Grossman, MD, Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Oncology Clinical Development at Gilead Sciences, said, “MacroGenics’ bispecific expertise naturally complements Gilead’s portfolio strengths in immuno-oncology and our growing hematology franchise. This partnership is the latest in our efforts to develop and advance transformative new cancer therapies as we deepen our portfolio across oncology indications.”

As a part of the deal, Gilead and MacroGenics agreed on an upfront payment of $60 million from the former to the latter. In return, MacroGenics will shoulder responsibility for the ongoing Phase 1 trial investigating MGD024. The trial uses MGD024 as a single agent in patients unresponsive to treatment with standard therapies or who have relapsed after treatment. With an end date in March 2025, the goal is the evaluation of the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and more of MGD024. 

Additionally payments tied to target nominations, option fees, and development, regulatory and commercial milestones, which have the potential to amount to up to $1.7 billion are available to MacroGenics. Furthermore, possibly tiered, double-digit royalties on worldwide sales are on the table for MacroGenics.

However, the success or failure of MGD024 and its sister bispecific antibodies is yet to be known, pending clinical development. 

Author

Max Heirich