Kite Pharma, a subsidiary of Gilead Sciences, is set to enhance its portfolio in the treatment of multiple myeloma through an expanded collaboration with biotechnology firm Arcellx, securing rights to ACLX-001, a novel BCMA-targeted CAR-T cell therapy. The agreement, announced on Wednesday, involves a $285 million payment from Kite to Arcellx.
B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is a protein commonly present on the surface of multiple myeloma cells, making it a prime target for therapeutic intervention. ACLX-001, alongside CART-ddBCMA, another CAR-T therapy developed through the Kite-Arcellx partnership, aims to exploit this target to combat the disease.
Cindy Perettie, Executive Vice President of Kite, expressed the company’s commitment to advancing the CART-ddBCMA program and addressing the significant need for new treatments in multiple myeloma and lymphoma. “This strategic expansion with Arcellx leverages our combined expertise, aligning Arcellx’s innovative platform technologies with Kite’s leadership in CAR-T manufacturing and commercialization,” Perettie remarked.
The partnership between Kite and Arcellx dates back to late 2022, with an initial agreement worth $225 million to co-develop and co-commercialize CART-ddBCMA, which was Arcellx’s leading candidate at the time. Rami Elghandour, CEO of Arcellx, highlighted the swift progress and shared vision of the collaboration, emphasizing the potential of their novel synthetic binder, the D-Domain, to pioneer a new class of CAR-T therapies.
Despite the promise, the development journey has faced hurdles. A clinical hold was placed on the Phase 2 trial of CART-ddBCMA earlier in the year following a patient’s death. However, by August, Arcellx announced the resumption of the trial after protocol amendments and additional training for clinical sites.
Elghandour also noted that Kite’s investment would bolster Arcellx’s cash flow through 2027, supporting the commercialization efforts for CART-ddBCMA. The transaction, which includes a $200 million equity investment, is expected to close by year-end.
The announcement of this deal comes on the heels of Gilead’s positive earnings report, which exceeded expectations due to robust sales in oncology treatments and the HIV medication Biktarvy. Additionally, Gilead recently entered a partnership with Assembly Biosciences to develop antiviral therapies for conditions such as herpes and hepatitis B and D.
In conclusion, the expanded Kite-Arcellx deal not only signifies a strategic move for Kite Pharma in bolstering its presence in the oncology space but also underscores the industry’s ongoing efforts to harness innovative therapies to meet unmet medical needs. With strategic targeting and delivery, such collaborations have the potential to generate significant advancements in patient care and treatment outcomes.
