AbbVie, Neomorph Strike Deal to Co-Develop Molecular Glue Degraders for Oncology, Immunology

Image Credit: Adobe Stock Images/Htet Wai Phyo

AbbVie and Neomorph have announced a collaboration and option-to-license agreement to develop molecular glue degraders, a novel class of small molecules designed to selectively degrade disease-driving proteins. According to AbbVie, this approach targets proteins that are considered to be undruggable and offers potential breakthroughs in oncology and immunology by enabling precise treatment of cancer and immune disorders.¹

"Protein degraders represent a groundbreaking advancement in the field of drug discovery and at AbbVie we are committed to advancing this technology forward," said Steven Elmore, VP, small molecule therapeutics and platform technologies, AbbVie, in a press release. "We are excited to collaborate with Neomorph to develop novel molecular glue degraders which could pave the way for new, effective therapies in the treatment of immune disorders and cancer."

Neomorph is expected to receive an upfront payment from AbbVie, with the potential to receive up to $1.64 billion in aggregate option fees and milestones, as well as tiered royalties on net sales.¹

According to a study published in Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery, molecular glue degraders have gained significant attention over the past decade, with experts believing that combining numerous approaches will create opportunities to treat diseases that are still incurable.²

"At Neomorph, we have spent years building a unique molecular glue platform with broad coverage of the proteome," said Phil Chamberlain, DPhil, co-founder, president, CEO, Neomorph, in the press release. "We are thrilled to partner with AbbVie, a global leader in delivering transformative medicines in oncology and immunology, as we aim to tackle some of the most challenging and valuable targets known."

The deal isn’t the first that AbbVie has struck in the new year. On January 13, the company announced that it inked a deal with Simcere to develop SIM0500, an investigational new drug candidate currently in Phase I clinical trials for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in China and the United States. Under terms of the deal, Simcere Zaiming will receive an upfront payment, with the potential to receive up to $1.055 billion in option fees and milestone payments.^3,4

"As a leader in hematologic malignancies, AbbVie is committed to advancing innovative treatments for complex cancers like multiple myeloma through our relentless R&D efforts and collaborations," said Mariana Cota Stirner, MD, PhD, VP, therapeutic area head for hematology, AbbVie, in a press release. "We look forward to partnering with Simcere Zaiming, to advance this novel trispecific antibody, which has the potential to help address significant unmet medical needs for people living with multiple myeloma"

In addition, AbbVie announced that it has completed its acquisition of Nimble Therapeutics, including its lead asset, an investigational oral peptide IL23R inhibitor that is in preclinical development for the treatment of psoriasis. According to the company, Nimble's platform for peptide synthesis, screening, and optimization leverages proprietary technology to accelerate the discovery and refinement of oral peptide candidates across various targets.⁵

"With the acquisition now complete, we are excited to expand our immunology pipeline to include Nimble's novel oral peptide assets and look forward to integrating this proprietary technology into our R&D capabilities," said Jonathon Sedgwick, PhD, SVP, global head, discovery research, AbbVie, in a press release. "We are pleased to welcome the talented team at Nimble who share our commitment to elevating the standard of care for people living with autoimmune diseases."

References

1. AbbVie and Neomorph Announce Collaboration to Develop Molecular Glue Degraders for Oncology and Immunology. AbbVie. January 23, 2025. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://news.abbvie.com/2025-01-23-AbbVie-and-Neomorph-Announce-Collaboration-to-Develop-Molecular-Glue-Degraders-for-Oncology-and-Immunology

2. Molecular glue degraders: exciting opportunities for novel drug discovery. PudMed. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38240114/#:~:text=Introduction:%20Molecular%20Glue%20Degraders%20(MGDs,%2DProtein%20Interactions%20(PPIs).

3. AbbVie and Simcere Zaiming Announce Partnership to Develop a Novel Trispecific Antibody Candidate in Multiple Myeloma. AbbVie. January 13, 2025. Accessed January 25, 2025. https://news.abbvie.com/2025-01-13-AbbVie-and-Simcere-Zaiming-Announce-Partnership-to-Develop-a-Novel-Trispecific-Antibody-Candidate-in-Multiple-Myeloma

4. Flurry of Acquisitions and Licensing Deals Come Amid JP Morgan Healthcare Conference 2025. PharmExec. January 13, 2025. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://www.pharmexec.com/view/flurry-acquisitions-licensing-deals-come-amid-jp-morgan-healthcare-conference-2025

5. AbbVie Completes Acquisition of Nimble Therapeutics. PR Newswire. January 23, 2025. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/abbvie-completes-acquisition-of-nimble-therapeutics-302358709.html