Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Jounce Therapeutics, Inc. amended their existing license agreement for GS-1811 (formerly JTX-1811), enabling Gilead to buyout remaining contingent payments due under the license agreement from August 2020.  As part of the transaction, certain obligations of the parties related to GS-1811, an anti-CCR8 antibody, in the license agreement have also been terminated. Gilead will acquire certain related intellectual property, including all outstanding rights to GS-1811 and Jounce will receive proceeds of $67 million for this transaction. Gilead will be solely responsible for all further research, development, and commercialization of GS-1811 globally.  
 
GS-1811, a potentially first-in-class immunotherapy, is designed to selectively deplete immunosuppressive tumor-infiltrating T regulatory cells in the tumor microenvironment and is currently in Phase 1 development as a possible treatment for patients with solid tumors.  
 
Gilead will be solely responsible for all further research, development, and commercialization of GS-1811 globally. Jounce will no longer be entitled to receive the remaining contingent payments of up to $645 million in milestones and royalties based on worldwide sales under the original license agreement. 
 
“We are pleased to announce the signing of this transaction with Gilead who have a strong track record of developing and successfully commercializing leading brands in biotechnology,” said Richard Murray, Ph.D., chief executive officer and president of Jounce. “This transaction allows us to extend our runway and remain focused on delivering meaningful and long-lasting benefits to cancer patients. It was important for Jounce at this time to bolster our cash resources given challenges in capital markets for biotech companies.”
 
“Today’s news about GS-1811 further demonstrates our commitment to our rapidly evolving oncology franchise and mission of pioneering next-generation medicines for people with cancer,” said Bill Grossman, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Therapeutic Area Head, Gilead Oncology. “GS-1811, with its potential new pathway of activating the immune system, gives us the opportunity to potentially change the standard of care with a treatment that works from inside cancerous cells to shrink solid tumors.”