IDEAYA Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:IDYA) has announced a strategic partnership with GlaxoSmithKline Plc (NYSE:GSK) in Synthetic lethality, which is an emerging Oncology field.
IDEAYA’s Synthetic Lethality programs to hit clinical trials in three years
This strategic partnership between the companies includes IDEAYA’s synthetic Lethality programs. The programs expected to be in clinical trials in the next 3-years include Pol Theta, MAT2A as well as the Werner Helicase programs. So far, IDEAYA has dealt with the crystal structures for the programs which have enabled structure-centered drug design. Similarly, the company has shown an in organisms proof of concept in some animal models for the Pol Theta and MAT2A programs.
One of the main areas of Oncology research for GlaxoSmithKline is Synthetic Lethality. This is a situation where cells will tolerate single genes loss in isolation rather than in combination. When there is the functional loss of tumor suppressor genes in cancer, their mechanism of action can be employed in exploiting tumor-specific vulnerabilities via new medicines for cancer patients.
IDEAYA CEO and President Yujiro Hata stated that GlaxoSmithKline is the right strategic partner for the company. He added that partnership will permit compelling possible combinations as well as the chance to develop the promising Synthetic Lethality pipeline. The pipeline targets molecularly distinct groups if patients in various main solid tumors that include prostate, breast, lung, ovarian, and colorectal cancer.
IDEAYA to receive royalties for the Synthetic Lethality programs
Under the partnership, IDEAYA will lead the early clinical development of the MAT2A program and will be responsible for all the program costs before the GlaxoSmithKline option exercise. As a result, IDEAYA will, therefore, be responsible for around 20% of developmental costs. In return, the company will receive a profit share of 50% and ex-US royalties for the Werner Helicase and MAT2 programs.
For the products under development by GSK, IDEAYA will be responsible for around 20% of the development cost. The company will also be eligible for global royalties for the Pol Theta program that GSK will cover development, research as well as commercialization expenses.
