Calico looks to China

The anti-aging specialist Calico Life Sciences, already partnered with AbbVie, has licensed Mabwell’s anti-IL-11 MAb 9MW3811 for $25m up front outside Greater China. 9MW3811 is in a phase 1 Chinese study in solid tumours, although that trial’s status is unknown, according to clinicaltrials.gov. The project also has potential in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, Mabwell has said. IL-11 is a cytokine that has been linked with the development of tumours, particularly colorectal cancer, as well as with fibrotic diseases. However, the only other similarly acting clinical-stage project listed on OncologyPipeline is Lassen Therapeutics’ LASN01. And that asset appears to be primarily being developed for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and thyroid eye disease, although that company has previously mentioned potential applications in oncology. A US IND for 9MW3811 is open, so Calico’s plans could become clearer soon. The private group, founded by Google’s parent company Alphabet, has been working with AbbVie since 2014, and the partners have developed two PTPN2 inhibitors, ABBV-CLS-484 and ABBV-CLS-579. These projects are in phase 1 solid tumour trials due to complete next year – representing a delay from August 2025 previously.

The IL-11 pipeline

Source: OncologyPipeline & clinicaltrials.gov.