Gilead Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) and insitro announced today that the
companies have entered into a strategic collaboration to discover and
develop therapies for patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
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Under the terms of the three-year collaboration, insitro’s proprietary
platform will be utilized to create disease models for NASH and discover
targets that have an influence on clinical progression and regression of
the disease. The insitro Human (ISH) platform applies machine learning,
human genetics and functional genomics to generate and optimize unique
in vitro models and drive therapeutic discovery and development. The ISH
platform will provide insights into disease progression, suggest
candidate targets, and predict patient responses to potential
therapeutic interventions. Gilead can advance up to five targets
identified through this collaboration and will be responsible for
chemistry and development against these targets.
“Gilead is committed to researching and developing treatments for
patients living with NASH, particularly those with advanced fibrosis who
have the greatest unmet need,” said John McHutchison, AO, MD, Chief
Scientific Officer and Head of Research and Development, Gilead
Sciences. “We are excited about the opportunity to partner with insitro
to tackle the scientific challenges associated with this complex
disease. Through this collaboration we will utilize deep learning to
explore the scientific underpinnings of the biology and clinical
spectrum of NASH, with the goal of accelerating the development of
highly effective treatment options for patients with this disease.”
“NASH is a progressive liver disease that can lead to fibrosis,
cirrhosis, and liver cancer and will soon be the predominant cause of
liver transplantation in the U.S.,” said Daphne Koller, Ph.D., CEO and
founder of insitro. “We are excited to work with Gilead, a leader in
liver disease, in bringing to bear novel tools toward identifying new
therapeutics for NASH and helping the many patients in need around the
world.”
Under the terms of the agreement, insitro will receive an upfront
payment of $15 million, with additional near-term payments up to $35
million based on operational milestones. insitro will be eligible to
receive up to $200 million for the achievement of preclinical,
development, regulatory and commercial milestones for each of the five
Gilead targets; and up to low double-digit tiered royalties on net
sales. For programs where insitro opts in, it will have the right to
co-develop and co-detail in the U.S., receive a profit share in China
and receive milestone payments and royalties on other ex-U.S. sales.
About NASH
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic form of liver disease
characterized by excess fat in the liver, inflammation, and liver cell
damage. Inflammation and liver cell damage can cause scarring of the
liver, or fibrosis, and ultimately lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer.
NASH is more common in people with certain conditions, including obesity
and type 2 diabetes. There are currently limited approved treatments for
patients living with NASH.
About insitro
insitro is a data-driven drug discovery and development company that
uses machine learning to transform the way that drugs are discovered and
delivered to patients. By generating high-throughput, functional genomic
data sets that align with patient data, and interpreting those data via
novel machine learning methods, insitro builds predictive models that
can accelerate target selection and the design of effective
therapeutics. The company is building a high-throughput bio-data factory
based on state-of-the-art technologies from bioengineering, allowing the
creation of large data sets that enable cutting edge machine learning
methods to be brought to bear on key bottlenecks in drug development.
insitro was launched in 2018 with a Series A of over $100M funded by
a16z, Arch Venture Partners, Foresite Capital, GV (formerly Google
Ventures), and Third Rock Ventures, as well as additional investments
from Alexandria Venture Investments, Bezos Expeditions, Mubadala
Investment Company, Two Sigma Ventures, Verily and other undisclosed
investors. The company is located in South San Francisco, CA. For more
information on insitro, please visit the company’s website at www.insitro.com.
About Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that
discovers, develops, and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of
unmet medical need. The company strives to transform and simplify care
for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world. Gilead has
operations in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in
Foster City, California. For more information on Gilead Sciences, please
visit the company’s website at www.gilead.com.
Gilead Forward-Looking Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are
subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risk
that the parties may not realize the potential benefits of this
collaboration and Gilead may fail to develop and/or commercialize any
product candidates from this collaboration. All statements other than
statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed
forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors
could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to
in the forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely
on these forward-looking statements. These and other risks are described
in detail in Gilead’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2018, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. All forward-looking statements are based on information
currently available to Gilead, and Gilead assumes no obligation to
update any such forward-looking statements.
For more information on Gilead Sciences, please visit the company’s
website at www.gilead.com,
follow Gilead on Twitter (@GileadSciences) or call Gilead Public Affairs
at 1-800-GILEAD-5 or 1-650-574-3000.
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