AbbVie and Cugene Announce Collaboration in Autoimmune Diseases

- AbbVie receives the option to license worldwide rights to CUG252 from Cugene, a clinical-stage and potential best-in-class Treg-selective IL-2 mutein, building on AbbVie's commitment to developing novel therapies in immunology

- Cugene to complete a Phase 1a study in healthy volunteers and to   conduct a Phase 1b study in patients with autoimmune/inflammatory disease   during the option period

ABBVie (NYSE: ABBV) and Cugene Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation precision immunology and oncology medicines to treat autoimmune disease and cancer, today announced an exclusive worldwide license option agreement for CUG252, a potential best-in-class Treg-selective IL-2 mutein, as well as other novel IL-2 muteins, for the potential treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Selective IL-2 muteins have the potential to represent a major advancement in the standard of care for patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Cugene's lead candidate, CUG252, is an engineered IL-2 mutein designed to selectively activate and expand immune-suppressive Treg cells while reducing undesired IL-2 activity on other IL-2 receptor expressing cells for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. CUG252 is currently in a Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers.

"AbbVie is committed to developing novel therapies in immunology where unmet needs remain for patients living with complex autoimmune and inflammatory conditions," said Tom Hudson , MD, senior vice president, R&D, chief scientific officer, AbbVie. "Our partnership with Cugene is the latest in our efforts to develop and advance potential next-generation therapies like CUG252."

"We are very pleased to partner with AbbVie, a global leader in the development and commercialization of innovative immunology therapies," said Luke Li , M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Cugene Inc. "AbbVie is an ideal partner for CUG252, with their commitment to R&D, deep therapeutic area expertise, and the global resources needed to maximize CUG252's therapeutic potential for patients suffering from autoimmune diseases. Today's agreement highlights Cugene's unique precision engineering platform that has yielded multiple product candidates, including CUG252. We look forward to collaborating with AbbVie to transform clinical outcomes in autoimmune disease."

Under the terms of the agreement, Cugene will receive an upfront payment of $48.5 million , and will also be eligible to receive development and regulatory milestones and a license option exercise payment if AbbVie exercises the option. In addition, Cugene may also receive commercialization and sales-based milestones and tiered royalties. AbbVie will receive an option to obtain an exclusive license for certain IL-2 muteins, including CUG252. During the option period, Cugene will conduct a Phase 1b study in patients with autoimmune/inflammatory disease.  Upon exercise of the option, AbbVie will conduct all future clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization activities for CUG252.

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com . Follow @abbvie on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and LinkedIn

About Cugene Inc.

Cugene is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation precision immunology and oncology medicines to treat autoimmune disease and cancer. Cugene is advancing an armamentarium of precision immune therapeutics with compelling target biology to improve patients' lives by utilizing unique precision engineering technologies, including cytokine-based TILKine™ and VitoKine multiproduct platforms. Cugene is backed by world-class scientific and clinical advisors, a proven management team, and a global healthcare focused investment fund. For more information, visit us at www.cugene.com and follow Cugene on LinkedIn .

Forward-Looking Statements

Some statements in this news release are, or may be considered, forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. AbbVie cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, failure to realize the expected benefits from AbbVie's acquisition of Allergan plc ("Allergan"), failure to promptly and effectively integrate Allergan's businesses, competition from other products, challenges to intellectual property, difficulties inherent in the research and development process, adverse litigation or government action, changes to laws and regulations applicable to our industry and the impact of public health outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, such as COVID-19. Additional information about the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect AbbVie's operations is set forth in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of AbbVie's 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as updated by its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. AbbVie undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except as required by law.

###

Cision View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/abbvie-and-cugene-announce-collaboration-in-autoimmune-diseases-301547560.html

SOURCE AbbVie

News Provided by PR Newswire via QuoteMedia

ABBV
The Conversation (0)
Health Canada Approves AbbVie's RINVOQ®  for the Treatment of Adults with Active Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

Health Canada Approves AbbVie's RINVOQ® for the Treatment of Adults with Active Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

- Approval is based on results from the Phase 3 SELECT-AXIS 2 pivotal clinical trial in which RINVOQ delivered rapid and meaningful disease control, meeting the primary endpoint of ASAS40 response at week 14 versus placebo 1
- RINVOQ is the first and only Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor approved to treat patients across the spectrum of axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA and ankylosing spondylitis) in Canada 1, 2, 3

AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), today announced that Health Canada has approved RINVOQ ® (upadacitinib, 15 mg), the first oral, once-daily selective and reversible JAK inhibitor for the treatment of adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) with objective signs of inflammation who have had an inadequate response to a biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) or when use of those therapies is inadvisable.

News Provided by Canada Newswire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less
AbbVie Releases New Data Demonstrating Breadth of Its Gastroenterology Portfolio at 2023 Digestive Disease Week®

AbbVie Releases New Data Demonstrating Breadth of Its Gastroenterology Portfolio at 2023 Digestive Disease Week®

- Oral presentations highlight efficacy and safety outcomes from the upadacitinib (RINVOQ ® ) clinical trial program in adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease, and investigational use of linaclotide (LINZESS ® ) in treating functional constipation in pediatric patients aged 6 to 17 years

- Twenty-nine abstracts showcase AbbVie's   vast portfolio and continued commitment to changing the way patients living with gastrointestinal disorders manage their condition

News Provided by PR Newswire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less
Sirona Biochem Announces Exclusive Global Licensing Agreement with Allergan Aesthetics

Sirona Biochem Announces Exclusive Global Licensing Agreement with Allergan Aesthetics

Sirona Biochem Corp . (TSX-V: SBM) (FSE: ZSB) (OTC: SRBCF) (" Sirona ") is pleased to announce it has entered into a global exclusive licensing agreement with Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company (NYSE: ABBV), pursuant to which Allergan Aesthetics will develop and commercialize topical skin care treatments based on active ingredients derived from certain of Sirona's patents for TFC-1067 and related family of compounds.

"We are very pleased to have finalized terms with a global leader in medical aesthetics and the innovator behind SkinMedica™, a leader in the science of skin rejuvenation," said Dr. Howard Verrico, CEO of Sirona Biochem. "Our most recent clinical trial of TFC-1067 was a collaborative effort with Allergan Aesthetics to demonstrate the clinical potential in topical skin care treatments. This further validates our platform technology as viable for additional commercial products which we are actively pursuing. We would like to thank Dr. Linda Pullan of Pullan Consulting who assisted with our current success."

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less
CWENCH Hydration Gains Distribution in Metro Supermarkets Across Ontario

CWENCH Hydration Gains Distribution in Metro Supermarkets Across Ontario

With the debut of CWENCH Hydration™ in its first major Canadian grocer, Cizzle Brands anticipates that it will be able to further penetrate the mainstream consumer market alongside the specialty athletic and fitness-related markets. Starting this month, CWENCH Hydration™ mix packets will be offered in the pharmacy section of 47 Metro supermarkets across the province of Ontario.

News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less
CWENCH Hydration Gains Distribution in Metro Supermarkets Across Ontario

CWENCH Hydration Gains Distribution in Metro Supermarkets Across Ontario

With the debut of CWENCH Hydration™ in its first major Canadian grocer, Cizzle Brands anticipates that it will be able to further penetrate the mainstream consumer market alongside the specialty athletic and fitness-related markets. Starting this month, CWENCH Hydration™ mix packets will be offered in the pharmacy section of 47 Metro supermarkets across the province of Ontario.

News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less
Row of test tubes and pipette with chemical droplet chemical coming from it.

Top 5 Small-cap Biotech Stocks (Updated January 2025)

The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index (INDEXNASDAQ:NBI) is trading at three-year highs in response to breakthrough innovations and increased deals for biotech stocks on the NASDAQ.

After dropping to a low of 3,637.05 in October 2023, the index climbed to a high of 4,954.813 on September 19, 2024. While the NBI is trading down at 4,399.36 as of January 7, 2025, further growth could be in store in the future. However, the current economic environment means the biotech sector may have a complex road ahead.

According to a recent report from Precedence Research, the global biotech market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.5 percent from now to 2034, reaching a valuation of US$4.61 trillion.

Keep reading...Show less

AMGEN TO PRESENT AT 43RD ANNUAL J.P. MORGAN HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) will present at the 2025 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference at 3:00 p.m. PT on Monday, January 13, 2025 . Robert A. Bradway chairman and chief executive officer at Amgen will present at the conference. The webcast will be broadcast over the internet simultaneously and will be available to members of the news media, investors and the general public.

The webcast, as with other selected presentations regarding developments in Amgen's business given by management at certain investor and medical conferences, can be found on Amgen's website, www.amgen.com , under Investors. Information regarding presentation times, webcast availability and webcast links are noted on Amgen's Investor Relations Events Calendar. The webcast will be archived and available for replay for at least 90 days after the event.

News Provided by PR Newswire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less

AMGEN TO PRESENT AT 43RD ANNUAL J.P. MORGAN HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE

Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) will present at the 2025 J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference at 3:00 p.m. PT on Monday, January 13, 2025 . Robert A. Bradway chairman and chief executive officer at Amgen will present at the conference. The webcast will be broadcast over the internet simultaneously and will be available to members of the news media, investors and the general public.

The webcast, as with other selected presentations regarding developments in Amgen's business given by management at certain investor and medical conferences, can be found on Amgen's website, www.amgen.com , under Investors. Information regarding presentation times, webcast availability and webcast links are noted on Amgen's Investor Relations Events Calendar. The webcast will be archived and available for replay for at least 90 days after the event.

News Provided by PR Newswire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less

Latest Press Releases

Related News

×