Debiopharm secures rights to Repare's PKMYT1 inhibitor in $267M deal

Swiss pharmaceutical company Debiopharm has secured a licensing deal with Repare Therapeutics valued at up to $267 million. This agreement grants Debiopharm global rights to Repare’s pioneering PKMYT1 inhibitor, lunresertib. The licensing arrangement is an extension of the collaboration that began between the two companies in January of the previous year. This partnership focuses on investigating the combined use of lunresertib and Debiopharm’s Debio 0123, a brain-penetrant inhibitor that selectively targets the WEE1 protein.

Bertrand Ducrey, CEO of Debiopharm, expressed optimism about the potential of the synthetic lethality approach utilized in this combination. He stated that this strategy could enable the delivery of this innovative precision therapy to patients with cancers that are particularly challenging to treat.

Under the terms of the agreement revealed on Tuesday, Repare will receive an immediate payment of $10 million. Additionally, the company stands to gain as much as $257 million through milestone payments, including up to $5 million in potential near-term payments. Repare will also benefit from single-digit sales royalties.

As part of the arrangement, Debiopharm will take over sponsorship of the MYTHIC study. This research examines the efficacy of combining lunresertib with Repare’s ATR inhibitor, camonsertib, specifically targeting gynecologic cancers. Debiopharm will be responsible for all current and future developmental activities related to lunresertib.

From Repare's perspective, this new agreement provides an opportunity to reallocate resources towards advancing its ongoing Phase I trials. These trials focus on a Polθ ATPase inhibitor, referred to as RP-3467, and a PLK4 inhibitor, known as RP-1664. Despite this shift in focus, Repare will maintain its involvement in the development of lunresertib.

The transaction between Debiopharm and Repare represents a significant collaborative effort in the field of cancer treatment. By leveraging their respective expertise, the companies aim to make substantial strides in developing therapies for cancers that are notoriously difficult to treat. The collaboration underscores the growing trend of partnerships in the pharmaceutical industry, where companies pool resources and knowledge to accelerate the development of new therapies.

Debiopharm's commitment to furthering the development of lunresertib is a testament to its potential as a groundbreaking treatment in the oncology field. This licensing agreement not only reinforces the ongoing collaboration between Debiopharm and Repare but also highlights the importance of strategic partnerships in advancing medical research and delivering innovative treatment options to patients worldwide.

By assuming the sponsorship of the MYTHIC study, Debiopharm demonstrates its dedication to exploring and expanding the potential applications of lunresertib. This move ensures that the research into this promising inhibitor continues to progress, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for patients with challenging cancer diagnoses.

Overall, the partnership between Debiopharm and Repare encapsulates a forward-thinking approach to cancer treatment, driven by scientific innovation and a commitment to addressing unmet medical needs in the oncology space.