Gilead Science’s Kite and Maryland-based Arcellx have expanded their partnership to include the license for Arcellx’s multiple myeloma program and propel treatment of lymphomas.
The initial partnership, inked back in December, has been extended to support the advancement of CART-ddBCMA to include lymphomas after seeing momentum within the program. Alongside this, Kite has exercised its option to negotiate a license for Arcellx’s ARC-SparX program, ACLX-001, in multiple myeloma.
The expanded partnership aims to further capitalize on the synergy between Arcellx’s platform technologies and Kite’s cell therapy manufacturing and commercialization abilities.
The expansion comes three months after the FDA lifted the partial clinical hold on Arcellx’s experimental drug CART-ddBCMA for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Back in June, Arcellx revealed that the FDA had placed a hold on a trial for CART-ddBCMA following the death of a patient. The patient's death was found to be related to cytokine release syndrome, a known side effect that is associated with CAR-T therapies.
Upon closing, the expanded deal has Gilead handing Arcellx an equity investment of $200 million and $85 million in upfront non-dilutive payments, extending Arcellx's runway into 2027. Following the deal, Gilead’s estimated ownership will be 13%.
