Gilead forges partnership with Nurix on cancer and other diseases

US biotech major Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD) has struck a deal with privately-held Nurix to discover, develop and commercialize a pipeline of innovative targeted protein degradation drugs for patients with cancer and other challenging diseases, adding to a string of licensing agreements already signed this year.

Dysregulated and/or mutated proteins play a central role in the development and progression of many human diseases. Nurix’ technology platform is focused on the manipulation of the ubiquitin system and its component E3 ligases, the key enzymes responsible for controlling protein levels in human cells.

Under the multi-year collaboration, Nurix will utilize its proprietary drug discovery platform to identify novel agents that utilize E3 ligases to induce degradation of specified drug targets and Gilead will have an option to license drug candidates directed to up to five targets resulting from the work. Nurix will retain the option to co-develop and co-detail up to two programs in the USA. The collaboration excludes Nurix’ lead degradation program, for which Nurix retains all rights.