Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb have entered into a collaboration agreement for the discovery, development and commercialization of cancer immunotherapies based on Rigel's portfolio of small molecule TGF beta receptor kinase inhibitors. TGF beta can promote tumor growth and broadly suppress the immune system. The collaboration will focus on developing a new class of therapeutics aimed at increasing the immune system's activity against various cancers, either as monotherapy or in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors, including BMS’ Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab).
 
BMS will have exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize small molecule therapeutics derived from Rigel's TGF beta library, including those approved to treat cancer. Rigel will receive $30 million upfront and is eligible to receive development and regulatory milestones that could total more than $309 million, as well as royalties on sales.
 
"As a company dedicated to leading scientific advances in immuno-oncology, we are committed to exploring the utility of TGF beta inhibition as a potential therapeutic to fight certain cancers," said Carl Decicco, Ph.D., head of Discovery, R&D, Bristol-Myers Squibb. "Working with Rigel and having access to their TGF beta receptor kinase inhibitors extends our existing portfolio of immunotherapeutic approaches to include this key mediator of immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment."
 
"This collaboration places our TGF beta receptor kinase inhibitor program into the hands of Bristol-Myers Squibb, a premier immuno-oncology company. Together, we believe TGF beta inhibition may offer novel therapeutic opportunities in oncology treatments," said Raul Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer of Rigel. "Rigel has focused on immunology, and oncology via numerous partnerships. This collaboration is Rigel's first in immuno-oncology and is one of the Company's several programs in this area."