Dive Brief:
- Celgene’s CEO Mark Alles said during a recent R&D day that the company is expanding beyond multiple myeloma research toward brain cancer, saying the company is aggressively developing a drug, marizomib, directed against glioblastoma.
- Alles made the announcement during a meeting last week with board members and investors, while noting Celgene also broadened its myeloma work, acquiring Engmab of Switzerland for $600 million to accelerate its research into T-cell antibodies that activate a patient’s own immune system to attack cancer. Myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow.
- With the move, Celgene, based in Summit, N.J., is likely to seek an IND and complete clinical work for the myeloma treatment following the Engmab purchase sometime in 2017.
Dive Insight:
As a leader in the multiple myeloma market with previously approved drugs Revlimid (lenalidomide) and Pomalyst (pomalidomide), Celgene is continuing to add to its pipeline to treat rare cancers with the acquisition of Engmab. About 11,240 patients died from multiple myeloma last year. Alles’ announcement of the gioblastoma research shows the company wants to expand into brain cancer development research.
The newly acquired Engmab has developed T-cell bispecific antibodies that bind simultaneously to a tumor antigen and T-cell receptor to destroy malignant cells.
"This is a company that is developing a bispecific antibody for and against the BCMA target," Alles said of Engmab in the directors’ meeting last week. "This is quite complementary to our work with Bluebird Bio," he added. Celgene paid BlueBird Bio $10 million this February as part of a previous opt-in agreement.
Indeed, the Engmab transaction rounds out the company’s development with Bluebird Bio, which focuses on the BCMA, a cell surface protein expressed in normal plasma cells and in most multiple myeloma cells. CAR-T therapy targets proteins that help T-cell receptors target BCMA.
Alles noted the IND for the molecule targets the BCMA and CD3, a T-cell receptor that allows T-cells to carry out removal, or killing, of cancer cells. Alles anticipates the IND should be completed and clinical work should begin on the molecule later in 2017.
Alles almost casually mentioned the Engmab deal in passing and instead also asked his team to "think beyond myeloma."
Alles said the company is developing marizomib, a proteasome inhibitor, for glioblastoma, tumors that are generated from astrocytes, widely-known as star shaped cells that make up what is seen as a glue-like, supportive tissue of the brain. Proteasomes are enzymes found in cells and regulate cell function by breaking down proteins.
Alles said he anticipated that further research would include presentation of data for marizom in combination with Avastin (bvacizumab), which has been approved for replaced/refractor GBM (glioblastoma multiforme), another cell related cancer linked to brain tumors.
"We think that people will be very excited to see this synergy and once again the mechanism of a proteasome inhibit in the setting of the non-myeloma patient population," Alles said of the company's development.
Alles pointed to Celgene’s stake in myeloma cancer fighting agents, but looked to the possibilities ahead for expanded development in brain cancers, with his announcement. "So myeloma front and center, but today is all about proteome," Alles said at the end of his presentation.