Gilead Sciences said an independent review of interim Phase 3 data found the immunotherapy, magrolimab, led to a higher risk of death. Though Gilead is discontinuing further development of the drug in blood cancers, a review is ongoing in solid tumors.
The drugmaker's equity investment is just the latest in a string of large biopharma companies making moves into the emerging space of cancer immunotherapy drugs targeting CD47. AbbVie announced a $2 billion deal with I-Mab last week, while Gilead spent $4.9 billion to buy Forty Seven in March.
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The drugmaker said Friday that it would partner with Shanghai-based I-Mab on the development of lemzoparlimab, a drug that targets CD47. The antigen target, also known as the "don't eat me" signal, is a growing area of immunotherapy, as illustrated by Gilead's $4.9 billion buyout of Forty Seven in March.
The company presented Phase Ib data for magrolimab, a CD47 inhibitor, in AML and MDS. An interviewed executive and an investigator expressed particular excitement about complete responses in a poor-prognosis patient subset, in addition to the general AML population.
Forty Seven's shares were up more than 60% on the Nasdaq following the news. The company's lead candidate is magrolimab, an immuno-therapy drug with a mechanism of action distinct from checkpoint inhibitors currently on the market.
The company is working to move its CD47-targeting drug, ALX148, into Phase II development. Another company, Forty Seven, is also developing a CD47-targeting therapy. CD47 is an immune checkpoint distinct from the ones targeted by currently marketed cancer immunotherapy drugs.
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The company joins a small but growing list of firms developing drugs targeting CD47, the "don't eat me" immune checkpoint. Another company, further ahead in development, is Forty Seven.