Alphabet's Calico Signs $570M+ Aging Deal with China's Mabwell

Calico Life Sciences, a subsidiary of Alphabet dedicated to addressing diseases associated with aging, has announced a significant licensing agreement with Mabwell Bioscience. The agreement will focus on advancing Mabwell's anti-IL-11 monoclonal antibodies, specifically targeting age-related diseases.

As part of this collaboration, Calico is set to provide an upfront payment of $25 million to Mabwell and may offer up to $571 million in various milestone payments related to development, regulatory, and commercial achievements. This financial commitment underscores Calico's dedication to pushing the boundaries in the field of age-related disease treatment.

The centerpiece of this partnership is Mabwell's experimental antibody, 9MW3811. This antibody works by targeting and blocking the IL-11 cytokine, effectively disrupting its downstream signaling. By doing so, 9MW3811 suppresses the inflammatory response within the body. Mabwell is exploring this investigational antibody's potential in treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, with ongoing research and trials approved in China, the United States, and Australia. Notably, the U.S. FDA approved the Investigational New Drug application for this molecule in June 2023.

Calico sees potential beyond its current application in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The company believes that the mechanism of 9MW3811 could offer a new approach to tackling aging and age-related disorders. Under the agreement, Calico will have exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize 9MW3811 outside the Greater China region.

Founded in September 2013 by Alphabet, the parent company of Google, Calico emerged as a promising player in the biotech industry. In September 2014, Calico partnered with AbbVie to set up a research and development center in Illinois. Both companies committed $250 million each, with the possibility of investing an additional $500 million. This substantial commitment was further reinforced in June 2018, with an additional $500 million each, aimed at developing treatments for age-related diseases.

However, the journey hasn't been without its challenges. In January of this year, a joint effort with AbbVie faced a setback when their drug candidate, fosigotifator, failed to show significant results in slowing disease progression in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This was reported after reviewing topline findings from the HEALEY ALS platform trial.

Despite such setbacks, Calico remains focused on exploring the biology of aging to identify novel pharmaceutical targets that are not widely pursued by others. This approach aims to uncover new avenues for therapeutic interventions in the aging process.

In a related development, BioAge, another company in the aging space, halted its lead asset, azelaprag, following concerns about liver damage. Initially investigated as a treatment for obesity, BioAge discontinued the study after Phase II trials revealed elevated levels of liver enzymes in patients.

The collaboration between Calico and Mabwell marks a promising step forward in the quest to understand and potentially mitigate age-related diseases. With Mabwell’s innovative approach to targeting inflammation, and Calico's expertise and resources, this partnership could yield significant advancements in the field of aging research and treatment.