Boehringer and Cue Collaborate on $357M Autoimmune Drug Deal

Boehringer Ingelheim and Cue Biopharma have embarked on a collaborative venture valued at $357 million, aiming to develop and commercialize Cue Biopharma's pre-clinical therapy, CUE-501, which targets B cell depletion in autoimmune diseases. This partnership, structured as a multi-year collaboration and licensing agreement, leverages Cue’s innovative technology to enhance research and propel the development of CUE-501. Additionally, the collaboration holds the potential to extend into the exploration and possible development of various B cell targeting bi-specifics for autoimmune conditions.

Carine Boustany, who serves as the US research site head and the global head of immunology and respiratory diseases research at Boehringer Ingelheim, highlighted the strategic importance of this collaboration. She emphasized that it marks a significant expansion of the company’s pipeline portfolio in the challenging realm of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, where patients often endure a cycle of multiple treatments before achieving any relief. Boustany expressed that by utilizing Cue Biopharma’s proprietary T-cell engager platform, the objective is to provide a more effective treatment option to patients at an earlier stage in their disease journey.

Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis, affect over 50 million individuals in the United States alone. These conditions arise when the immune system fails to differentiate between healthy cells and foreign invaders, leading to the body's immune response attacking its own tissues. CUE-501, the candidate molecule in focus, holds promise for reaching patients with autoimmune diseases sooner and could result in sustained disease control. It has been designed to bind to a specific membrane protein on B cells and selectively engage virus-specific memory killer T cells. This mechanism allows it to deplete B cells and subsequently reduce autoimmune and inflammatory responses.

The agreement stipulates that Cue Biopharma will receive an initial payment of $12 million along with research support payments. Additionally, Cue stands to earn approximately $345 million through various research, development, and commercial milestone-based payments, as well as royalty payments from net sales of the therapy. Daniel Passeri, Cue Biopharma’s chief executive officer, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, noting that it not only facilitates further development of the candidate molecule but also has the potential to validate Cue’s Immuno-STAT platform. Passeri believes that this collaboration represents a groundbreaking approach to selectively redirect and harness potent antiviral memory T cells against targeted, pathological cells.

In summary, the collaboration between Boehringer Ingelheim and Cue Biopharma marks a significant step forward in the development of innovative therapies targeting autoimmune diseases. By focusing on CUE-501 and its unique mechanism of action, these companies aspire to address the unmet needs of millions suffering from autoimmune conditions, potentially changing the landscape of treatment options available to patients.