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TG Therapeutics, Ligand ink licensing deal to develop inhibitors of IRAK4

US-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical firm TG Therapeutics has entered into an agreement with Ligand Pharmaceuticals (LGND) to license exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize Ligand's Interleukin-1 Receptor Associated Kinase 4 (IRAK4) inhibitor research program.

Scientist, Test Tube

Ligand’s IRAK4 is a major signaling kinase that becomes inappropriately activated in tumors that carry certain oncogenic mutations of MYD88, which can be found in most patients with Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia as well as in a sub-set of patients with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

IRAK4 is also a major component of signaling pathways which regulate immune and inflammatory processes suggesting that inhibition of IRAK4 may also be useful in treating autoimmune related disorders.

According to the company, the IRAK4 program is currently in pre-clinical development.

As part of the deal, Ligand will receive an up-front licensing fee of 125,000 unregistered shares of TG Therapeutics’ common stock valued at about $1m at date of signing, and is eligible to receive $207m in potential milestone payments.

Additionally, TG will make development and sales-based milestone payments as well as pay a tiered, mid-to-high single digit royalty on net sales.

Ligand will also receive tiered royalties of 6% to 9.5% on future net sales of licensed products containing patented IRAK-4 inhibitors.

TG Therapeutics executive chairman, interim CEO and president Michael Weiss said the company is happy to add the IRAK4 program to its portfolio.

"Pre-clinical models suggest inhibition of IRAK4 could provide therapeutic benefit in patients with certain B-cell malignancies," Weiss said.

"We were very impressed with Ligand’s IRAK4 program and their team’s ability to identify potent and selective inhibitors of IRAK4 and we look forward to carrying forward their work.

"While still early, the addition of the IRAK4 program complements our existing portfolio that target B-cell malignancies and disorders and can potentially be used alone or in combination with our existing product candidates in a genetically-defined subset of patients."


Image: TG Therapeutics and Ligand partner to develop and commercialize IRAK4 inhibitor research program.Photo: courtesy of ponsulak/ freedigitalphotos.net