Bristol Myers Squibb has exercised its option under a research collaboration with Dragonfly Therapeutics, Inc, to enter into an exclusive license for a sixth TriNKET Immunotherapy drug candidate, bringing the total drug candidates licensed by BMS to seven including Dragonfly’s novel IL12 cytokine DF6002/BMS-986415. Since their original 2017 collaboration focusing on hematology malignancies, the companies have agreed to two additional collaborations which include oncology and neuroinflammation targets. This marks the first TriNKET opt-in outside of oncology.
“We are delighted that our research collaboration initiated with Dragonfly in July 2020 on multiple sclerosis and neuro-inflammation has rapidly produced novel TriNKET drug candidate molecules that may provide new treatment options for patients with neurological diseases” said Richard Hargreaves, Senior Vice President, Neuroscience, Bristol Myers Squibb.
“We believe this opt-in decision by Bristol Myers Squibb further validates our drug discovery platform,” said Bill Haney, Dragonfly’s CEO. “The ongoing clinical trials of six Dragonfly-developed drugs including our wholly owned solid tumor targeting TriNKETs DF1001 (HER2), now in Phase 2, DF9001 (EGFR), and our BMS-partnered novel IL12 cytokine, underscore the breadth of Dragonfly’s portfolio of innovative therapeutics, and potential to help patients with hematological cancers, solid tumor cancers, autoimmune diseases, and neurological conditions.”
