Gilead pays nearly $1.3 billion for PepStar oral IL-23 receptor peptide
The deal gives Gilead global rights to HCXT-2001, an orally dosed peptide aimed at inflammatory bowel disease, from Shanghai-based PepStar Therapeutics.
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By Tom Reyes · Markets Editor
Oct 23 13:49 ETSource: MedCity News
The wire
- 01Gilead announced after Thursday's close that it will pay nearly $1.3 billion for global rights to PepStar Therapeutics' IL-23 receptor program, led by clinical-stage candidate HCXT-2001.
- 02IL-23 receptor is a validated target already hit by approved immunology drugs, but most are chronic injections; an oral peptide would compete directly with J&J's new immunology pill.
- 03Oral delivery remains the hard part for peptides, which are degraded in the gut and poorly absorbed; no clinical efficacy data for HCXT-2001 were disclosed with the deal.
From the source
Read at medcitynews.comGilead to Pay $1.3B for Oral Peptide That Could Rival J&J’s New Immunology Pill
Inflammation is one of the therapeutic areas Gilead Sciences has singled out for future growth and this strategy is adding a key new piece through a nearly $1.3 billion deal for a clinical-stage oral drug with potential applications in inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD.
