AbbVie, a major pharmaceutical company already noted for its leadership in the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) market with several blockbuster drugs, is further expanding its IBD offerings through strategic acquisitions and development of new drug candidates. Recently, AbbVie has reinforced its commitment to advancing IBD treatment by completing the acquisition of Celsius Therapeutics for $250 million. Celsius, a clinical-stage biotech company, is notable for its lead program, CEL383, which is an innovative antibody designed to combat inflammation by targeting TREM1—a protein implicated in the amplification of inflammatory processes.
CEL383 operates by inhibiting the signaling pathways of TREM1, a protein found on certain immune cells where it plays a critical role in exacerbating inflammation. This places TREM1 upstream of other known inflammatory pathways, rendering it a potent potential target for reducing inflammatory responses effectively. Celsius has reported that in preclinical studies, their drug successfully disrupted TREM1 signaling, and a Phase 1 clinical trial in IBD patients was initiated last year. While the results of this trial were not disclosed in AbbVie’s acquisition announcement, the company highlighted its optimistic outlook on CEL383’s impact on IBD treatment.
Kori Wallace, AbbVie’s Vice President and Global Head of Immunology Clinical Development, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition and the prospects of CEL383, stating that advancing this drug could significantly aid IBD patients in achieving remission. CEL383’s development has been facilitated by Celsius’s pioneering platform technology which allows for single-cell analysis of clinical samples, thus offering deeper insights into cellular interactions and disease mechanisms.
Established by Third Rock Ventures in 2018 with an initial funding of $65 million, Celsius has not only engaged in immunology but has extended its technological applications to oncology. The company received additional funding in 2022, securing a total of $83 million in extended Series A and completed Series B financings.
AbbVie’s IBD portfolio already includes several approved treatments such as Humira and Rinvoq, addressing major types of IBD including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Additionally, Skyrizi, another AbbVie antibody, recently gained approval for treating ulcerative colitis, adding to its prior FDA approval for Crohn’s disease.
The acquisition of Celsius is part of AbbVie’s broader strategy to bolster its pipeline in the IBD market, demonstrated by other recent deals. Prior to this acquisition, AbbVie secured licensing rights to a preclinical antibody from FutureGen, FG-M701, which targets TL1A—a molecule increasingly recognized for its role in IBD. This deal places AbbVie in competition with other pharmaceutical giants like Merck, Sanofi, and Roche, which are also exploring TL1A-targeted therapies.
Moreover, AbbVie has adopted another innovative approach through its acquisition of Landos Biopharma earlier in the year. This deal, valued at $137 million upfront, brought in a new small molecule candidate that targets NOD-like receptor X1 (NLRX1), a modulator of inflammatory proteins specific to gastrointestinal disorders, thereby diversifying AbbVie’s approach to tackling IBD at the molecular level.
These strategic moves underline AbbVie’s commitment to maintaining and expanding its leadership in the IBD treatment market, leveraging both biological and small molecule therapies. Through these acquisitions and the development of novel treatments, AbbVie aims to offer a broader range of therapeutic options, targeting different aspects and pathways involved in inflammatory bowel diseases, potentially improving outcomes for patients suffering from these chronic conditions.
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