Nurix Therapeutics Announces Extension of Strategic Collaboration with Sanofi to Develop Novel Targeted Protein Degraders of STAT6
April 09 2024 - 6:00AM
Nurix Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: NRIX), a clinical stage
biopharmaceutical company developing targeted protein modulation
drugs designed to treat patients with cancer and inflammatory
diseases, announced today an extension of the ongoing research
program with Sanofi for STAT6 (signal transducer and activator of
transcription 6). STAT6 is a key drug target in type 2
inflammation.
“STAT6 is a key transcription factor within the IL-4/IL-13
signaling pathways which act as drivers of inflammation in allergic
conditions. These conditions are currently treated with injectable
monoclonal antibody therapies, which are designed to impede
IL-4/IL-13 signaling,” said Gwenn M. Hansen, Ph.D., chief
scientific officer of Nurix. “Preclinical data from our STAT6
degraders show that targeted degradation of this key transcription
factor provides a rapidly acting and potent blockade of signaling.
We anticipate nominating a clinical candidate from this advanced
preclinical program in the coming twelve months.”
“The extension of the STAT6 research program with Sanofi speaks
to the success of our current collaboration which combines Nurix’s
leadership in the design and development of targeted protein
degraders with Sanofi’s industry-leading expertise and capabilities
in inflammation and immunology,” said Arthur T. Sands, M.D., Ph.D.,
president and chief executive officer of Nurix. “We are very
excited to pursue our collaboration with Sanofi, as it further
demonstrates the productivity of our long-standing research program
to develop a pipeline of breakthrough degraders to treat
inflammation and autoimmunity. Nurix’s disclosed pipeline in
inflammation and autoimmunity now includes the STAT6 degrader with
Sanofi, the IRAK4 degrader with Gilead, and Nurix’s proprietary BTK
degrader, NX-5948. We look forward to continuing to work with the
Sanofi team to advance this exciting STAT6 program to bring new
therapeutic options to patients.”
Under the collaboration agreement, Nurix is deploying its
proprietary drug discovery platform to identify novel agents that
use E3 ligases to induce degradation of specified drug targets.
Sanofi has an option to license drug candidates resulting from the
work, and Nurix retains its option to co-develop and co-promote
future products in the United States under programs for which Nurix
has exercised its option. For those programs for which Nurix
exercises its option to co-develop and co-promote, the parties will
split U.S profits and losses evenly and Nurix will be eligible to
receive royalties on ex-U.S. sales on all optioned products. Upon
signing the agreement in December 2019, Sanofi made an upfront
payment of $55 million and subsequently paid an additional $22
million one year later to expand the scope of the collaboration.
Under the agreement, Nurix remains eligible for up to a total of
$2.5 billion in potential future milestones as well as royalties on
future products. With today’s announcement, Nurix and Sanofi have
agreed to extend the research term for the ongoing STAT6 program
with the goal of nominating a development candidate in the first
year of the extended term.
About STAT6
Targeting the STAT6 pathway is supported by both insight from
human genetic studies and clinical validation with either biologics
targeting IL4/13 or small molecule inhibitors targeting the Janus
Kinase (JAK) family. JAK proteins, which are upstream of STAT6,
mediate the signaling of multiple cytokines, and as a result, JAK
inhibition leads to safety concerns. A selective potent STAT6
degrader offers potential of antibody like efficacy with a better
pathway specific profile compared to JAK inhibitors.
About Nurix Therapeutics, Inc.
Nurix Therapeutics is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company
focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of
innovative small molecules and antibody therapies based on the
modulation of cellular protein levels as a novel treatment approach
for cancer, inflammatory conditions, and other challenging
diseases. Leveraging extensive expertise in E3 ligases together
with proprietary DNA-encoded libraries, Nurix has built DELigase,
an integrated discovery platform, to identify and advance novel
drug candidates targeting E3 ligases, a broad class of enzymes that
can modulate proteins within the cell. Nurix’s drug discovery
approach is to either harness or inhibit the natural function of E3
ligases within the ubiquitin-proteasome system to selectively
decrease or increase cellular protein levels. Nurix’s wholly owned,
clinical stage pipeline includes targeted protein degraders of
Bruton’s tyrosine kinase, a B-cell signaling protein, and
inhibitors of Casitas B-lineage lymphoma proto-oncogene B, an E3
ligase that regulates activation of multiple immune cell types
including T cell and NK cells. Nurix is headquartered in San
Francisco, California. For additional information visit
http://www.nurixtx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that relate to future
events and expectations and as such constitute forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. When or if used in this press release, the
words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “predict,” “should,” “will,”
and similar expressions and their variants, as they relate to
Nurix, may identify forward-looking statements. All statements that
reflect Nurix’s expectations, assumptions or projections about the
future, other than statements of historical fact, are
forward-looking statements, including, without limitation,
statements regarding: Nurix’s future financial or business
performance; Nurix’s plans with respect to its collaboration with
Sanofi; Nurix’s expectations with respect to nominating a clinical
candidate from the STAT6 program; the potential benefits of and
Nurix’s expectations with respect to the extension of the research
period under Nurix’s collaboration with Sanofi, including the
potential achievement of milestone and license payments; the extent
to which future development candidates, including targeted protein
degraders of STAT6, may address a range of diseases; and the
potential advantages of Nurix’s scientific approach and DELigase™
platform. Forward-looking statements reflect Nurix’s current
beliefs, expectations, and assumptions regarding the future.
Although Nurix believes the expectations and assumptions reflected
in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, Nurix can give
no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject
to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that are
difficult to predict, which could cause Nurix’s actual activities
and results to differ materially from those expressed in any
forward-looking statement. Such risks and uncertainties include,
but are not limited to: (i) the ability of each party to perform
its obligations under the Nurix-Sanofi collaboration; (ii) whether
the parties will be able to successfully conduct and complete
preclinical development, clinical development and commercialization
of any drug candidates under the Nurix-Sanofi collaboration; (iii)
the unexpected emergence of adverse events or other undesirable
side effects during preclinical and clinical development; (iv)
whether Nurix will be able to fund development activities and
achieve development goals, including those under the Nurix-Sanofi
collaboration; (v) risks and uncertainties relating to the timing
and receipt of payments from Nurix’s collaboration partners,
including milestone payments and royalties on future potential
product sales; and (vi) other risks and uncertainties described
under the heading “Risk Factors” in Nurix’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2023, and other SEC
filings. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements. The statements in
this press release speak only as of the date of this press release,
even if subsequently made available by Nurix on its website or
otherwise. Nurix disclaims any intention or obligation to update
publicly any forward-looking statements, whether in response to new
information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by
applicable law.
Contacts:
InvestorsJason Kantor, Ph.D.Nurix
Therapeuticsir@nurixtx.com
Elizabeth Wolffe, Ph.D.Wheelhouse Life Science
Advisorslwolffe@wheelhouselsa.com
MediaAljanae ReynoldsWheelhouse Life Science
Advisorsareynolds@wheelhouselsa.com
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