Celgene and Jounce in Cancer Drug Collaboration
Celgene and Jounce Therapeutics are collaborating to develop and commercialize immuno-oncology treatments. The deal gives Celgene options on Jounce’s lead product candidate, monoclonal antibody JTX-2011, as well as additional immunotherapies targeting B cells, T regulatory cells and tumor-associated macrophages.
In return, Jounce will receive an upfront payment of $225 million, a $36 million equity investment, and up to a further $2.3 billion in milestone payments across all programs included in the collaboration. JTX-2011 binds to and activates the Inducible T cell CO-Stimulator (ICOS), a protein on the surface of certain T cells that is thought to stimulate an immune response against cancer.
The drug is being developed to treat solid tumors as a single agent and in combination with other therapies, and is expected to enter the clinic in the second half of 2016. Richard Murray, CEO of Jounce Therapeutics, said the partnership would enable it to broaden its platform, advance its discovery programs and execute comprehensive clinical strategies.
Jounce would lead global development and US commercialization for JTX-2011 and one other collaboration program. Following any opt-in, both companies would share US profits and losses on all programs.
