AbbVie is jumping into the TL1A space, inking a new deal with a Beijing-based biotech.
The company said Thursday that it’s partnering with FutureGen Biopharmaceutical, licensing an anti-TL1A antibody called FG-M701 that’s expected to be tested in inflammatory bowel disease. AbbVie will pay $150 million in upfront cash and near-term milestones, and it’s also on the hook for up to $1.56 billion in additional biobucks.
In a press release announcing the deal, AbbVie said FG-M701 contains properties that improve on the first generation of TL1A compounds and could provide “greater efficacy and less frequent dosing as a therapy for IBD.”
TL1A has been a buzzy target in recent years. Prometheus Biosciences and Roivant each touted positive mid-stage data for their TL1A programs at the end of 2022. The hype led to buyouts for both companies, with Merck acquiring Prometheus for $10.8 billion in April 2023, and Roivant selling its program to Roche for $7.1 billion last October.
There is little information available publicly about FutureGen. Its website lists a pipeline primarily made up of oncology programs targeting CLDN18.2, CD40/PD-L1 and TIGIT/PVRIG/(PD-1). The anti-TL1A program is in preclinical development and expected to reach Phase 1 testing in IBD sometime this year.