Gilead takes up options on Arcus clinical-stage programs

US biotech major Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD) has exercised its options to three programs in Arcus Biosciences’ (NYSE: RCUS) clinical-stage portfolio, including both anti-TIGIT molecules, domvanalimab and AB308, as well as etrumadenant and quemliclustat, with the news lifting Arcus’ shares as much as 20% to $44.47 in pe-market trading.

Domvanalimab is an Fc-silent anti-TIGIT antibody in Phase II and Phase III studies in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and AB308 is an Fc-enabled anti-TIGIT antibody under Phase I evaluation. Etrumadenant is a dual adenosine A2a/A2b receptor antagonist in Phase I and Phase II studies in NSCLC, colon cancer and prostate cancer. Quemliclustat is a small molecule CD73 inhibitor in a Phase I study in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Gilead says it has been encouraged by early clinical data generated for each of the three programs. By opting in early to all three programs now, Gilead and Arcus are able to accelerate the clinical development and advancement of these clinical-stage molecules and facilitate the exploration of treatment combinations across the portfolios. For example, Gilead will be able to pursue potential chemotherapy-free regimens with Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) in combination with therapies optioned from the Arcus portfolio. Gilead will also have the flexibility to add Gilead portfolio candidates to existing Arcus studies.