AbbVie Makes Bold Move in Multiple Myeloma Treatment with $700M Upfront Deal for Trispecific Antibody

AbbVie has significantly bolstered its oncology pipeline by securing rights to a promising trispecific antibody for multiple myeloma treatment. The pharmaceutical giant has agreed to pay Ichnos Glenmark Innovation (IGI) $700 million upfront for ISB 2001, a next-generation candidate rivaling Johnson & Johnson's Tecvayli.

Trispecific Antibody: A New Frontier in Cancer Treatment

ISB 2001 represents a novel approach in multiple myeloma therapy, targeting CD38, BCMA, and CD3. This trispecific design potentially offers advantages over existing bispecific antibodies like Tecvayli, Pfizer's Elrexfio, and Regeneron's Lynozyfic, which target only BCMA and CD3. The addition of CD38 as a target could enhance binding to tumor cells with low BCMA expression and potentially combat resistance mechanisms.

Promising Phase 1 Results

Recent phase 1 data presented by IGI has shown encouraging results for ISB 2001. In a study involving 35 patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, many of whom had previously received BCMA-targeted therapies, the response rate was an impressive 79%. Notably, almost 30% of patients achieved a complete response.

The safety profile appears manageable, with no dose-limiting toxicities reported. While 60% of patients experienced grade 3 or higher hematologic treatment-emergent adverse events, and over two-thirds had cytokine release syndrome, all cases of the latter were grade 1 or 2.

AbbVie's Strategic Expansion in Oncology

This deal aligns with AbbVie's broader strategy to strengthen its position in oncology, particularly in the realm of multispecific molecules. CEO Rob Michael has highlighted this focus, noting that such deals complement AbbVie's internal pipeline and recent acquisitions, including ImmunoGen.

The agreement grants AbbVie rights to ISB 2001 across North America, Europe, Japan, and Greater China. Beyond the substantial upfront payment, the deal includes potential development, regulatory, and commercial milestones totaling up to $1.225 billion.