arGEN-X and AbbVie collaborate on ARGX-115 in multi-million-$ deal

US pharma major AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) and Belgium’s clinical stage biotech arGEN-X (Euronext Brussels: ARGX) plan to collaborate to develop and commercialize ARGX-115.

ARGX-115 is arGEN-X' preclinical-stage human antibody program targeting the novel immuno-oncology target GARP, a protein believed to contribute to immunosuppressive effects of T-cells. Last year, arGEN-X exercised its option to exclusively license preclinical antibody, now called ARGX-115, to target GARP, an immune checkpoint with potential in cancer immunotherapy (The Pharma Letter March 4, 2015).

“ARGX-115 has been developed in collaboration with an outstanding team of academics at the de Duve Institute/Université Catholique de Louvain through our Innovative Access Program, which gives arGEN-X rights to novel, exciting targets in our areas of therapeutic focus. We believe ARGX-115 has the potential to advance immuno-oncology by selectively targeting tumor immune escape pathways,” said Tim van Hauwermeiren, chief executive of arGEN-X.

“We are proud to develop and commercialize ARGX-115 through collaboration with AbbVie, a global leader in oncology. In addition to the attractive financial elements of this transaction, our shared interest in the commercial potential of ARGX-115, including the right to co-promote the drug in Europe, makes this a highly strategic collaboration for arGEN-X, he added.