Compugen Ltd., a clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy company will receive a $6 million milestone payment from AstraZeneca triggered by the dosing of the first patient in a Phase 1/2 study evaluating AZD2936, a TIGIT/PD-1 bispecific antibody, in patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. AZD2936 is derived from COM902, Compugen’s high-affinity clinical-stage anti-TIGIT antibody.
 
“We are proud that AstraZeneca’s TIGIT bispecific program, derived from COM902, has advanced to the clinic and become our fourth clinical stage program originating from our innovative pipeline” said Anat Cohen-Dayag, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Compugen. “We hope COM902’s differentiated properties will contribute to the clinical success of AZD2936 and we look forward to the advancement of this important clinical program.”
 
The companies entered an agreement in 2018 under which Compugen provided an exclusive license to AstraZeneca to use its monospecific antibodies that bind to TIGIT, including COM902, for the development of bi-specific and multi-specific antibody products. AstraZeneca is responsible for all research, development, and commercial activities. AstraZeneca has the right to create multiple products under this license.
 
To date, Compugen has also received a $10 million upfront payment, an additional $2 million milestone payment, and is eligible for as much as $200 million in development, regulatory and commercial milestones for the first product, as well as royalties on sales.