Ipsen, Biomunex in $610m deal for MAIT-cell engager

Ipsen has revealed its acquisition of exclusive global rights to Biomunex Pharmaceuticals’ pre-clinical T cell engager (TCE) known as BMX-502. This deal, valued at up to $610 million, signifies a significant addition to Ipsen’s immuno-oncology portfolio.

BMX-502 is a bispecific antibody that engages and activates mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, a specific subset of cytotoxic T cells, and targets the GPC3 tumor antigen, which is highly expressed in multiple cancer types, including melanoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. MAIT cells are distributed throughout the body, particularly in mucosal and barrier tissues.

Ipsen has stated that MAIT engagers like BMX-502 could potentially offer a more robust therapeutic window compared to traditional pan-TCEs in certain tumor types. They are also expected to address limitations associated with conventional therapies, such as cytokine release syndrome.

Once Biomunex completes the Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling package for BMX-502, Ipsen will take over the responsibilities for phase 1 preparation, including the submission of the IND application, and will manage all subsequent clinical development and global commercialization efforts. In return, Biomunex is set to receive up to $610 million, encompassing an undisclosed upfront payment, development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered global royalties on sales.

Mary Jane Hinrichs, Ipsen’s senior vice president and head of early development, expressed optimism about the new MAIT-engager program. She emphasized that this endeavor will complement Ipsen’s existing TCE portfolio and help tackle treatment challenges like dose-limiting toxicity, ultimately aiming to develop transformative new therapies for individuals with solid tumors worldwide.

Pierre-Emmanuel Gerard, founder, president, and CEO of Biomunex, also commented on the agreement. He voiced confidence in the potential of MAIT engagers to represent a significant advancement in the development of innovative immunotherapies for cancer treatment. Gerard expressed eagerness to collaborate with Ipsen in progressing the development of BMX-502.

This agreement follows an expansion of Ipsen’s ongoing oncology research partnership with Marengo Therapeutics, which took place six months prior. The expanded collaboration with Marengo, valued at up to $1.2 billion, focuses on Marengo’s TriSTAR platform, which aims to generate candidates capable of addressing issues related to poor T cell quality and T cell exhaustion. These factors often limit the effectiveness of traditional TCEs targeting challenging ‘cold’ tumors.