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Five Prime Therapeutics enters into research collaboration, license agreement with Inhibrx for new GITR antibodies

Five Prime Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel protein therapeutics for cancer and inflammatory diseases, announced a strategic research collaboration and license agreement with Inhibrx for Inhibrx's novel glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR) antibody program, which is currently at lead selection stage.

Leveraging its comprehensive protein library and proprietary in vivo screening technologies, Five Prime identified GITR as one of the most potent inhibitors of tumor growth.

GITR is an immune checkpoint protein that is selectively expressed on effector T cells and T regulatory cells (Tregs), and is believed to activate an immune response against tumor cells. In preclinical studies, agonist antibodies have demonstrated the ability to induce tumor regressions, particularly when administered in combination with other immuno-oncology therapies.

Inhibrx’s technology offers a novel, potentially best-in-class approach for engineering a GITR antibody with the desired properties aimed at maximizing safety, efficacy and combinability with other therapies. Inhibrx’s multivalent antibody scaffolds are designed to multimerize and activate GITR independent of Fc binding.

This is in contrast to conventional GITR antibodies, where efficacy is dependent upon binding and the presence of Fc-receptor bearing cells and may vary due to Fc receptor polymorphisms and be dampened by competing serum IgG.

Under the terms of the agreement, Five Prime will pay Inhibrx a $10 million license fee in return for exclusive, worldwide therapeutic and diagnostic rights to antibodies provided by Inhibrx that bind to GITR, as well as an option to license multi-specific antibodies that bind to GITR and other targets.

Inhibrx is eligible to receive up to $342.5 million in development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments per therapeutic product, or up to $442.5 million in development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration grants a Breakthrough Therapy Designation to such therapeutic product.

Milestone payments for development, regulatory and first commercial sale events may be paid in cash or in Five Prime common stock at Five Prime’s discretion. Inhibrx is also eligible for low double-digit tiered royalties on future product sales.

"Five Prime is actively pursuing a comprehensive approach to immuno-oncology by identifying pipeline candidates with the potential to work independently or in combination to target macrophages, immune check points, T cell agonist pathways and Treg cells. Comparing across many potential targets, our platform pointed to GITR as an ideal agonist to expand our portfolio," said Lewis "Rusty" T. Williams, M.D., Ph.D., chief executive officer & president of Five Prime.

"Inhibrx’s antibody technology is uniquely suited to activate GITR and enhance the immune response against the tumor. We believe this program has the potential to create a differentiated, next-generation GITR agonist that may have broad therapeutic application as a monotherapy or in combination with approved checkpoint inhibitors or other therapies, including products in our pipeline."

"We believe Five Prime’s insights into GITR biology and their scientific and clinical translation capabilities make them the optimal partner for our GITR program," said Mark Lappe, CEO of Inhibrx. "They share our commitment to bring therapeutics to patients in need as quickly as possible and we are excited to be collaborating with them."