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Rigel, Bristol-Myers Squibb partner to develop cancer immunotherapies

Rigel Pharmaceuticals and Bristol-Myers Squibb have partnered for the discovery, development and commercialization of cancer immunotherapies.

The cancer immunotherapies will be developed and commercialized by using Rigel’s small molecule TGF beta receptor kinase inhibitors range.

Through the partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb will secure exclusive, global rights to develop and commercialize small molecule therapeutics derived from Rigel’s TGF beta library, including, but not limited to, those approved to treat cancer.

Rigel Pharmaceuticals president and CEO Raul Rodriguez said: "This collaboration places our TGF beta receptor kinase inhibitor program into the hands of Bristol-Myers Squibb, a premier immuno-oncology company. Together, we believe TGF beta inhibition may offer novel therapeutic opportunities in oncology treatments.

"Rigel has focused on immunology, and oncology via numerous partnerships. This collaboration is Rigel’s first in immuno-oncology and is one of the Company’s several programs in this area."

The new class of therapeutics, when developed, will increase the immune system’s activity against various cancers either as monotherapy or in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors, including Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab).

These will inhibit TGF beta that can promote tumor growth, suppress the immune system by potently suppressing effector cell proliferation and function while simultaneously promoting differentiation of certain suppressive T-cells.

Present within tumor microenvironments, TGF beta can significantly dampen anti-tumor host immune responses.