Alphabet's Calico Inks $596M Deal with Mabwell for Anti-Aging Asset

Alphabet subsidiary Calico Life Sciences has entered into a significant licensing agreement with China-based Mabwell Bioscience, securing rights to develop and commercialize an investigational anti-aging therapeutic. The deal, worth up to $596 million, centers on Mabwell's anti-IL-11 monoclonal antibody program, with a focus on addressing age-related diseases.

Deal Structure and Financial Terms

Calico will make an upfront payment of $25 million to Mabwell, with the potential for up to $571 million in additional development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments. The agreement grants Calico exclusive rights to develop and commercialize the lead asset, 9MW3811, outside of the Greater China region.

This collaboration marks a significant step for Calico, which was founded in 2013 by Alphabet (Google's parent company) with the mission of tackling aging and age-related disorders. The deal aligns with Calico's strategy of identifying novel pharmaceutical targets that are not widely pursued by other companies in the industry.

9MW3811: Mechanism and Potential

The star of this partnership is Mabwell's investigational antibody 9MW3811, which targets and blocks the IL-11 cytokine. By inhibiting the IL-11 signaling pathway, 9MW3811 suppresses the body's inflammatory response, presenting a novel approach to addressing aging and age-related diseases.

Currently, Mabwell is studying 9MW3811 for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), with ongoing clinical trials in China and Australia. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for 9MW3811 in IPF in June 2023, paving the way for potential clinical trials in the United States.

For Calico, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of 9MW3811 opens up new possibilities in the pursuit of treatments for age-related disorders. This aligns with the company's focus on understanding the underlying biology of aging to identify innovative therapeutic approaches.

Industry Context and Challenges

The collaboration between Calico and Mabwell comes at a time when the anti-aging sector faces both promise and challenges. Earlier this year, Calico and its long-standing partner AbbVie encountered a setback when their drug candidate fosigotifator failed to significantly slow disease progression in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the HEALEY ALS platform trial.

Similarly, other players in the aging space have faced obstacles. In January, BioAge shelved its lead asset azelaprag, which was being studied as a treatment for obesity, due to safety concerns over liver damage in a Phase II study.

These developments underscore the complexities and risks involved in developing treatments for age-related diseases. However, the substantial investment by Calico in Mabwell's program suggests continued optimism and commitment to advancing potential breakthroughs in this challenging field.