RORgamma is a master control switch of immune system activation to treat a broad range of cancers and Lycera has discovered selective and potent oral agonists that target these compounds.
Orally bioavailable RORgamma agonists were also developed by Lycera and they showed single agent therapeutic activity in multiple animal models of cancer.
The company said that ex vivo treatment with RORgamma agonist compounds has been shown to improve the therapeutic benefit of adoptive T-cell therapy by improving both immune cell persistence and activation.
The collaboration will also focus on the continued clinical development of Lycera’s lead program, LYC-30937, an oral gut-directed ATPase modulator currently in Phase I clinical trials.
LYC-30937 is being developed to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with the goal of delivering significant disease improvement without global immune suppression.
As part of the deal, Lycera will also continue to advance their other programs including a Rho-associated protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) inhibitor.
The deal will see Lycera receive an $82.5m upfront cash payment as well as has the potential to receive near term payments of an additional $22.5m associated with the ex vivo licensing option rights.
The upfront payment includes an exclusive option for Celgene to license Lycera’s portfolio of ex vivo RORgamma agonist compounds.
Under the deal, Celgene secures the exclusive right to acquire Lycera upon conclusion of the option period or achievement by Lycera of pre-specified clinical milestones.