Compugen’s $500 M Deal With Bayer

Compugen Ltd. (NASDAQ: CGEN) signed a deal worth more than $500 million with Bayer Healthcare. The collaboration and license agreement for the research, development, and commercialization of antibody-based therapeutics for cancer immunotherapy against two novel Compugen discovered immune checkpoint regulators will give Bayer full control over further development and have worldwide commercialization rights for potential cancer therapeutics.

Under the agreement Compugen will receive an upfront payment of USD 10 million, and is eligible to receive over USD 500 million in potential milestone payments for both programs, not including milestone payments of up to USD 30 million associated with preclinical activities. Additionally, Compugen is also eligible to receive mid to high single digit royalties on global net sales of any resulting products under the collaboration. Compugen’s immunotherapy approach aims at combatting cancer by stimulating the body´s own immune cells. The tumor and its environment suppress the ability of cancer patients to develop an effective anti-tumor immune response and in this way protect both tumor growth and survival. Compugen has discovered two novel immune checkpoint regulators that potentially play a key role in immunosuppression. Researchers at Compugen are developing specific therapeutic antibodies that are geared to block the immunosuppressive function of these targets and to reactivate the patient`s anti-tumor immune response in order to fight cancer.