AbbVie Gains License Option to Cugene’s Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disease Portfolio

AbbVie has secured options to worldwide rights for several of Cugene’s interleukin-2 (IL-2) muteins, which are proteins with altered amino acid sequences that are being evaluated as potential treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Cugene’s lead candidate, CUG252, is designed to selectively activate immune-suppressive Treg cells while reducing undesired IL-2 activity. CUG252 is currently in a phase 1 study in healthy volunteers.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cugene will receive an upfront payment of $48.5 million, plus additional payments for reaching developmental or regulatory milestones.

It will also receive separate payments if AbbVie exercises its licensing option for a particular mutein as well as sales-based milestones and tiered royalties.