AbbVie signs $700M deal with IGI for trispecific antibody in multiple myeloma

AbbVie, a leading pharmaceutical company, is set to invest $700 million upfront in acquiring a trispecific antibody aimed at treating blood cancer from IGI Therapeutics. This move, accompanied by potential future payments, marks an ongoing trend of pharmaceutical companies exploring multi-target drugs. AbbVie will gain exclusive rights to IGI's multiple myeloma treatment across several key markets, including North America and Europe. Additionally, IGI may receive up to $1.22 billion in milestone payments and tiered double-digit royalties, according to a recent announcement.

The concept of bispecific antibodies, which target two different antigens, has been in existence for about a decade. However, the focus is rapidly shifting towards multispecific approaches that can engage more than two targets simultaneously. IGI's innovative drug, named ISB 2001, is designed to target BCMA and CD38 on cancer cells, as well as CD3 on T cells. This approach is believed to offer the potential for deeper and more durable responses in patients, as highlighted by AbbVie's Chief Scientific Officer, Roopal Thakkar.

The development of ISB 2001 leverages IGI's proprietary "BEAT" protein platform. In an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial involving patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, nearly 80% of participants treated with ISB 2001 showed positive responses, with 30% achieving complete responses. This promising data underscores the potential efficacy of the drug in targeting multiple antigens in cancer treatment.

Earlier in the year, AbbVie entered into a collaboration with China's Simcere Zaiming to advance another trispecific antibody for multiple myeloma, known as SIM0500. Under this arrangement, AbbVie retains the option to license SIM0500, with Simcere standing to gain up to $1.1 billion through option fees and milestone payments.

AbbVie is not alone in its pursuit of multispecific antibody therapies. Ipsen, another prominent player in the pharmaceutical industry, expanded a 2022 agreement with Marengo Therapeutics to include two trispecific antibody candidates for the treatment of cold tumors. This deal, finalized in June of the previous year, involves up to $1.2 billion in upfront and milestone payments, highlighting the growing interest in multispecific treatments.

Moreover, in March 2024, Gilead announced a partnership with Merus Therapeutics to develop two trispecific antibodies, with an option for a third. This collaboration involves an initial $56 million in cash payments, along with up to $1.5 billion in near-term fees and milestone payments, further emphasizing the industry's increasing focus on multispecific therapies.

As pharmaceutical companies continue to explore these innovative therapies, the potential to target multiple antigens concurrently offers promising prospects for more effective and durable treatments for complex diseases such as cancer. The collaborative efforts between industry leaders and biotech innovators signal a robust and dynamic future for multispecific antibody development, with significant implications for patient outcomes and the broader healthcare landscape.