AbbVie Acquires IGI Therapeutics' Antibody Rights for Up to $1.93 Billion

AbbVie has signed a deal to license IGI Therapeutics' ISB 2001 antibody for up to $1.93 billion plus royalties. The deal is intended for treating various conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease. The license will distribute geographically across the US, Germany, Japan, and other countries.

AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) and IGI Therapeutics SA, a wholly owned subsidiary of New York-based Ichnos Glenmark Innovation, Inc. (IGI), have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for ISB 2001, a first-in-class trispecific antibody developed using IGI's proprietary BEAT® protein platform. The agreement, announced on July 10, 2025, is designed to advance the development and commercialization of ISB 2001 for various conditions, including multiple myeloma, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease.

Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie will receive exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize ISB 2001 across North America, Europe, Japan, and Greater China. Subject to regulatory clearance, IGI will receive an upfront payment of $700 million and is eligible to receive up to $1.225 billion in development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, along with tiered, double-digit royalties on net sales.

ISB 2001 is currently in Phase 1 clinical trial for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM). It targets BCMA and CD38 on myeloma cells and CD3 on T cells, aiming to enhance avidity and improve safety over first-generation bispecific antibodies. Data presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting demonstrated a sustained overall response rate (ORR) of 79% and a high complete/stringent complete response (CR/sCR) rate of 30% at active doses ≥ 50 µg/kg in a heavily pretreated population of R/R MM patients, with a favorable safety profile.

The BEAT® platform, developed by IGI, addresses key engineering bottlenecks in large-scale bispecific production. It enables the development of next-generation immune cell engagers with strong therapeutic potential in oncology. The platform's ability to engage diverse immune cell types and its robust manufacturability make it a promising tool for advancing novel therapies.

This strategic alliance underscores AbbVie's commitment to advancing novel therapies for patients with significant unmet medical needs. The deal is expected to accelerate ISB 2001's path to patients and sharpen IGI's focus on developing the next generation of BEAT®-enabled assets in oncology and autoimmune diseases.

References:
[1] https://news.abbvie.com/2025-07-10-AbbVie-and-Ichnos-Glenmark-Innovation-IGI-Announce-Exclusive-Global-Licensing-Agreement-for-ISB-2001,-a-First-in-Class-CD38xBCMAxCD3-Trispecific-Antibody
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ichnos-glenmark-innovation-igi-abbvie-113500477.html