Amgen and Ideaya Terminate Cancer Combination Trial, Shifting Focus to In-House PRMT5 Inhibitor

Collaboration Ends as Ideaya Unveils Rival Molecule

Amgen and Ideaya Biosciences have mutually agreed to wind down their cancer combination study, effectively ending their collaboration on testing Amgen's PRMT5 inhibitor AMG 193 with Ideaya's MAT2A inhibitor IDE397. This decision comes in the wake of Ideaya's unveiling of its own PRMT5 inhibitor, IDE892, which the company plans to pair with IDE397 in future trials.

The termination of this partnership, which was established in 2022, marks a significant shift in strategy for both companies. Amgen, which had been exploring ways to enhance the efficacy of AMG 193, now finds itself without a MAT2A inhibitor partner. Meanwhile, Ideaya is doubling down on its in-house capabilities, positioning IDE892 as a potential best-in-class PRMT5 inhibitor.

Competitive Landscape in PRMT5 and MAT2A Inhibition

The decision to end the Amgen-Ideaya collaboration highlights the intensifying competition in the field of PRMT5 and MAT2A inhibition. Several major pharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca, BeiGene, Bristol Myers Squibb, Servier, and Tango Therapeutics, are actively developing candidates in this space.

Ideaya's CEO, Yujiro Hata, had previously emphasized the company's commitment to both the Amgen partnership and its internal development efforts. However, the recent unveiling of IDE892 at an R&D event in December seems to have altered the company's strategic priorities.

Future Directions and Clinical Implications

Despite the setback in its partnership with Ideaya, Amgen is proceeding with phase 2 trials of AMG 193 as a monotherapy. The PRMT5 inhibitor has shown modest efficacy in phase 1/2 data, with an 11% response rate reported last year. The company may now need to explore alternative combination strategies to improve the drug's efficacy.

Ideaya, on the other hand, is moving forward with plans to test the combination of IDE892 and IDE397 in patients with MTAP-deletion non-small cell lung cancer. This trial is scheduled to begin in the second half of the year, reflecting the company's confidence in its wholly-owned combination approach.

As the landscape of PRMT5 and MAT2A inhibition continues to evolve, the industry will be watching closely to see how these strategic shifts impact the development of new cancer therapies. The termination of the Amgen-Ideaya collaboration underscores the dynamic nature of pharmaceutical partnerships and the ongoing quest for more effective combination treatments in oncology.