ESMO 2024: Immatics regains full bispecific rights after BMS exit

Immatics Gains Full Rights to Develop Bispecific Molecule After BMS Ends Partnership

Immatics has secured full rights to advance the development of a bispecific molecule following Bristol Myers Squibb's (BMS) decision to terminate their collaborative agreement. In 2021, BMS entered into a partnership with Immatics, providing an upfront payment of $150 million and potentially up to $770 million in milestone payments. However, BMS has now decided to return both development and commercialization rights for the bispecific molecule IMA401 to Immatics, citing a need to prioritize their ongoing portfolio as the reason for the decision.

The announcement comes at a significant time for Immatics, which is currently presenting Phase I, proof-of-concept data for its T cell receptor (TCR) bispecific, TCER IMA401, at the European Society of Medical Oncology meeting in Barcelona, Spain, from September 13 to 17. The Phase Ia dose escalation study (NCT05359445) has included 35 patients with solid tumors across 16 different indications. These patients were selected based on their HLA-A*02:01 and MAGEA4/8-positive status and had undergone a median of four prior systemic treatments, with some patients having received up to eight lines of treatment.

As of a data cutoff on July 23, 2024, the study reported an objective response rate (ORR) of 29%, a confirmed ORR (cORR) of 25%, a disease control rate (DCR) of 53%, and a tumor shrinkage rate of 53%. Immatics’ Chief Development Officer, Dr. Carsten Reinhardt, expressed satisfaction with the initial anti-tumor activity observed during the dose escalation phase. He noted that these results were particularly promising given the heavily pre-treated nature of the patient population and the variety of solid tumor types involved.

Dr. Reinhardt also outlined the future direction for IMA401, highlighting plans to further leverage the molecule's potential by focusing on patients with high MAGEA4/8 target expression. This includes lung and head and neck cancer patients. The goal is to optimize the treatment schedule and explore the added clinical benefits of combining IMA401 with a checkpoint inhibitor.

IMA401 is a bispecific fusion protein designed to target cells expressing MAGEA4 and MAGEA8, both of which are typically found at elevated levels in tumor conditions. Current data supports a two-week dosing schedule; however, Immatics aims to reduce this to once every four weeks to enhance patient convenience and adherence. The company also reports that IMA401 has shown a manageable tolerability profile, with more extensive data expected by 2025.

Besides IMA401, Immatics is developing several other drug candidates, including IMA402 and IMA203, which further underscores the company's commitment to advancing its pipeline of innovative therapies.

Immatics remains focused on optimizing the therapeutic potential of IMA401 and its other pipeline projects, despite the end of its partnership with BMS. The company’s efforts are poised to bring new treatment options to patients with challenging cancer types, demonstrating resilience and dedication to clinical advancement in the biopharmaceutical field.