AbbVie and Calibr Expand Strategic Collaboration to Advance Several Preclinical and Early-stage Clinical Assets
July 26, 2023
NORTH CHICAGO, IL and LA JOLLA, CA– AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) and Calibr today announced an expanded strategic collaboration to advance several innovative preclinical and early-stage clinical assets across AbbVie’s core therapeutic growth areas including immunology, oncology, neuroscience and other areas of interest. This partnership is an expansion of the collaboration AbbVie and Scripps Research formed in 2019 to develop a broad range of potential new and novel therapeutics.
“We’ve made significant progress to advance rapidly many preclinical and clinical development programs across small molecule, biologics and CAR-T modalities,” said Thomas Hudson, M.D., senior vice president, research and development, chief scientific officer, AbbVie. “Working together with Calibr, AbbVie is excited to explore and further develop the potential of novel technologies and new clinical indications to bring breakthrough medicines to patients.”
In addition to programs initially named in the collaboration from preclinical to IND stages of development, Calibr will present to AbbVie a certain number of new discovery targets and preclinical assets of mutual interest for option considerations.
“AbbVie has been a trusted partner to Scripps Research for many years, as proven by our successful ongoing R&D collaborations spanning numerous disease areas that have yielded four clinical stage programs,” says Peter Schultz, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Scripps Research and Calibr. “This expansion represents an important step forward in our mission of translating scientific insights and discoveries into innovative, clinically validated drugs, and we believe it is a model for biomedical industry-nonprofit R&D partnerships.”
Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will provide Calibr with research option payments over the course of five years to obtain a first-exclusive option to develop and commercialize candidates arising from the independent preclinical research conducted by Calibr, with the goal of advancing its pipeline of therapeutic programs. Upon AbbVie’s decision to exercise its option to a specific program, Calibr is eligible to receive additional payments from AbbVie, including option exercise fees, success-based development and commercial milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties.
Calibr-Skaggs advances CLF065, a regenerative GLP-2 therapy, into two Phase 2 IBD studies
CLF065, a long-acting, once-weekly GLP-2 receptor agonist, advances in two inflammatory bowel disease indications. The studies aim to bring a regenerative treatment option to patients living with IBD, who currently have few therapies that repair the damaged intestinal lining at the root of their disease.
Advancing the vision: An experiment in rethinking the nonprofit biomedical research model
In his Front Row lecture, President and CEO Pete Schultz highlighted the progress Scripps Research has made in pioneering a new model for non-profit biomedical research. He described how integrating basic science and translational research under one roof is accelerating next-generation medicines—from new immunotherapies for cancer and innovative medicines for infectious disease to regenerative treatments for heart, lung and intestinal tissues. At a time of uncertainty in federal science funding, this model isn't only advancing human health but also helping to generate sustainable support for innovative scientific research and for training the next generation of scientific leaders.
Viome and Scripps Research partner to develop first at-home RNA screening test to prevent colon cancer before it strikes
First-of-its-kind 1,000-patient clinical study will use RNA-based stool and saliva tests to detect colon polyps — early warning signs of colorectal cancer — before they become cancerous.Study aims to enhance colorectal cancer prevention by identifying polyp molecular signals, offering improved sensitivity over at-home DNA tests, which have limited ability to detect precancerous lesions.
Enzyme engineering opens door to novel therapies for Parkinson’s, cancers and other hard-to-target protein diseases
Researchers reprogrammed a botulinum toxin protease to selectively break down disease-causing proteins in human cells, providing proof of concept for developing new therapies for a wide range of illnesses.