GSK\u2019s latest hepatology partnership is posing a less-asked question\u2014how do you encourage the regression of patients\u2019 liver fibrosis?<\/p>\n
To find the answer, the British Big Pharma is working with Engitix to identify targets involved in this process. Engitix\u2014which, like GSK, is based in London\u2014will use its\u00a0extracellular matrix platform and disease models\u00a0to generate multi-omics data sets that could be taken into development.<\/p>\n
Under the collaboration<\/a>, GSK will have the option to license anything from those specific data sets to assays and targets that result from the work, with the pharma then taking the lead on further R&D and commercialization.<\/p>\n In return, GSK will transfer 44.5 million pounds ($59.5 million) in upfront and near-term payments to Engitix, with potentially 118 million pounds ($157.7 million) in milestone payments tied to each target.<\/p>\n GSK already has an asset in its pipeline that\u2019s shown potential against liver fibrosis in the form of efimosfermin. The Big Pharma licensed<\/a> the once-monthly FGF21 analog from Boston Therapeutics for $1.2 billion upfront a year ago. Meanwhile, GSK\u2019s wider hepatology portfolio could soon be boosted if bepirovirsen, its \u201cfunctional cure\u201d for hepatitis B, bags an FDA approval<\/a> in October.<\/p>\n Kaivan Khavandi, M.D., Ph.D., GSK\u2019s head of respiratory, immunology and inflammation R&D, said in this morning\u2019s release that the pharma is \u201cexcited to collaborate with Engitix to access their differentiated human biology platform.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe ability to combine functional assays with rich multi-omics datasets complements our internal capabilities and network of collaborations in this space, supporting our work to develop differentiated, fibrosis-targeted medicines for patients,\u201d Khavandi added.<\/p>\n Engitix is focused on the extracellular matrix (ECM), a non-cellular network in tissues and organs<\/a> that both provides physical scaffolding for the cellular parts and plays a role starting processes like tissue morphogenesis and homeostasis.\u00a0While once seen as merely a physical barrier to chemotherapy and immune cells, more recent studies have pointed to a potential role for the ECM in driving fibrosis and solid tumors.<\/p>\n The biotech touts its platform<\/a> as a way to \u201cintegrate multi-omics and imaging data to decode the complexity of the extracellular matrix and its impact on disease.\u201d This has been enough to convince Takeda to pen deals<\/a> with the biotech in 2020 and 2022 for liver disease and inflammatory bowel disease, respectively.<\/p>\n