Pfizer Grabs Rights To Preclinical Drugs From Startup In $29 Million+ Deal

December 8, 2014

By Riley McDermid, BioSpace.com Breaking News Editor

Belgian biotech iTeos Therapeutics SA announced Monday that it will license the rights to three of its anti-tumor compounds to Pfizer Inc. for $24 million, as it attempts to get the backing of a global pharmaceutical firm for the development and commercialization of its IDO1 and TDO2 drug candidates. It will also be eligible for an undisclosed amount of milestone and royalty payments.

Under the terms of the deal, iTeos will license its pre-clinical compounds targeting Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) and Tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO2) to Pfizer for development and sales. The two companies will then collaborate on research to find new targets that play key roles in the immune system’s response to tumors.

"This strategic collaboration is a transformative opportunity for iTeos," said Michel Detheux, chief executive officer of iTeos. "The oncologic expertise of Pfizer will help enable the acceleration and expansion of the scope of iTeos' IDO1 and TDO2 programs…The successful integration of Ludwig Cancer Research science into iTeos' preclinical discovery platform in just two years following inception of the company made this collaboration possible."

Any new targets found will be shared by iTeos and Pfizer for further independent or collaborative development, said the firms.

Both IDO1 and TDO2 are enzymes that break down the amino acid tryptophan and are often expressed in certain types of cancers. When elevated levels of these two compounds are found, the immune system is usually unable to prevent tumor rejection. The combined use of IDO1 and TDO2 inhibitors has excited scientists because the use of one or both compounds could provide clinicians with tools to create personalized cancer therapy.

"This collaboration with iTeos is another important step for Pfizer as we continue to build an industry-leading pipeline of cancer immunotherapeutics, a critical facet of which is the promising class of small molecule immunomodulators," said Robert Abrahams, senior vice president and chief scientific officer of the oncology research unit at Pfizer. "With iTeos' strong expertise and experience in tumor immunology, this collaboration is well-positioned to help us deliver on our commitment to help bring new therapies to patients."

Based in Gosselies, Belgium, iTeos is a private company focused on targeting the metabolism of the tumor microenvironment through development of small-molecule immunomodulators for cancer treatment. The company earned $9 million in a funding round in April 2012 with significant support of the Walloon Region, to build a discovery platform combining expertise in tumor immunology, cancer immunotherapy, drug discovery and development.