Once one of the hottest vessels in the pharma fleet, SHP2 inhibitors are starting to retreat from the seas as AbbVie joins the list of companies ending work on a collaboration to develop therapies for the target.
China-headquartered Jacobio has announced the termination of a deal (PDF) with AbbVie that involved global development and commercialization of SHP2 inhibitors including solid tumor med JAB-3312, according to a regulatory document dated July 4. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed back in June 2020 when it was originally signed, but AbbVie snagged an exclusive license to develop Jacobio’s SHP2 portfolio. The biotech retained an opt-in to develop the program in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
But now the companies will end work. Jacobio said the decision was made “as part of AbbVie’s overall strategic decisions on its portfolio priorities.” Representatives of AbbVie did not return a request for comment as of publication.
Jacobio will now get the rights to the program back, putting the biotech once again in charge of development, commercialization, manufacturing and regulatory activities. The deal will be wrapped up over the next 180 days, with AbbVie continuing to fund costs in the meantime as previously planned.
The furthest along asset in the program is JAB-3312, which is currently being tested in a global phase 2a trial. Jacobio “remains dedicated” to continuing the program, including combining JAB-3312 with the company’s KRAS G12C inhibitor glecirasib, according to the document. Data from the combo study is expected in the second half of the year.
AbbVie becomes the latest Big Pharma to retreat from a SHP2 inhibitor partnership, after Sanofi did the same in December 2022. The French drugmaker ended a deal with Revolution Medicines after four years with few details, besides similar language about a pipeline review and reprioritization. Revolution vowed to continue on, just as Jacobio is doing today.
Researchers believe that adding an SHP2 inhibitor to other treatments in KRAS-driven cancers could overcome resistance that has plagued the field. KRAS is one of the most commonly mutated genes and is often associated with poor outcomes.
But as SHP2 drugs get further into the clinic, several companies are cutting them loose. In addition to Sanofi and now AbbVie, Erasca removed one from its pipeline in early June in light of dose escalation data.
Not everyone is backing away, however. Bristol Myers Squibb signed a deal with BridgeBio in May 2022 worth up to $905 million to join the SHP2 fleet. Others still at sea with the target include Novartis and Roche.