Key Takeaways
- Boehringer Ingelheim has acquired a $12 million preclinical B-cell depletion program from Cue Biopharma, aimed at treating autoimmune diseases.
- The novel approach involves making B cells appear virus-infected to harness the immune system for targeted depletion.
- The collaboration will last up to four years, during which Boehringer is responsible for development and commercialization.
Boehringer Ingelheim Enters B-Cell Depletion Arena
Boehringer Ingelheim is making a significant move into the B-cell depletion market by acquiring a preclinical program from Cue Biopharma for $12 million. This partnership highlights a growing interest in B-cell therapy as a treatment for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, especially following promising clinical data surrounding CD19-directed CAR-T cell therapies.
The landscape has changed considerably, with many pharmaceutical companies, including Sanofi and Merck & Co., rapidly integrating autoimmune programs alongside their offerings of CAR-T and bispecific therapies targeting cancer. Boehringer’s investment in Cue’s program, which includes the innovative compound CUE-501, is aimed at addressing some risks associated with conventional therapies.
CUE-501 utilizes technology initially developed for cancer treatments. The strategy involves making B cells mimic cells infected with common viruses, such as cytomegalovirus and SARS-CoV-2. This method is designed to exploit the immune system’s ability to recognize and eliminate these “infected” cells, leveraging the body’s existing memory T cells. This strategy could lead to more targeted B-cell depletion without the severe side effects often associated with bispecific therapies.
According to Cue Biopharma CEO Daniel Passeri, traditional bispecific treatments have limitations due to their reliance on the CD3 molecule, which can trigger a widespread activation of T cells and potentially result in dangerous cytokine storms. This new approach aims to paint B cells with viral epitopes, creating a safer profile. Early assessments suggest there are no detectable cytokine releases with this method, which presents a significant advantage over existing treatments.
The partnership between Boehringer and Cue involves collaborative research lasting up to four years, during which Boehringer has the option to pursue additional compounds for B-cell depletion. Importantly, Cue is barred from developing any competing B-cell depletion molecules throughout this research agreement.
This partnership not only gives Cue a financial boost with the $12 million from Boehringer, but the biotech also recently completed a $20 million public offering. With $22.5 million in hand by the end of last year, Cue anticipates this funding will support its operations through the fourth quarter of 2025.
As the B-cell depletion sector expands, driven by advances in immunotherapy for both autoimmune diseases and cancer, this collaboration places Boehringer Ingelheim in a competitive position to capitalize on emerging treatments that could redefine patient care in these challenging medical areas.
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