Abbvie makes a big bet on preclinical integrin inhibitors

Abbvie is a little late to the integrin inhibitor party. But the $100m in up-front cash it dropped on a research deal with Morphic Therapeutic yesterday suggests the company believes it can take the fight to its more advanced rivals. Morphic’s candidates, which are still preclinical, are administered orally, giving them an edge over most other projects in development – although Eisai’s AJM300 and Protagonist’s PTG-100, both being tested in ulcerative colitis, are also oral. Targeting integrins is thought to halt fibrosis, which is implicated in many disorders, as shown by the wide range of diseases in which this class is being evaluated. Privately held Morphic is being tight-lipped about exactly what indications it is looking at, saying only that it is focused on autoimmune and fibrotic diseases and cancer. The most advanced of the company’s five projects is an alpha v beta 6 inhibitor – upregulation of this integrin has been linked with cancer. Fibrosis is also involved in the much-hyped liver disease Nash; Morphic might be eyeing this space itself, as the smaller company has retained cost-sharing rights in liver fibrosis indications.