Exicure, Inc. has announced a strategic partnership with GPCR Therapeutics, Inc., marked by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on December 24, 2024. This collaboration aims to acquire GPCR USA, a subsidiary of GPCR Therapeutics, and facilitate technology transfer and collaborative research across GPCR Therapeutics’ drug development programs. The acquisition will provide Exicure with access to a Phase 2 clinical asset and bolster its position as a clinical-stage biotech company.
Acquisition Details and Strategic Objectives
Through this acquisition, Exicure intends to secure key technical personnel by acquiring all shares of GPCR USA. A core component of the deal is the technology transfer for GPCR Therapeutics’ CXCR4 inhibitor, which is currently undergoing Phase 2 clinical trials with the FDA. This includes related patents and intellectual property (IP). GPCR Therapeutics plans to finalize ongoing clinical trials involving stem cell mobilizers (SCM) for multiple myeloma patients and prepare for clinical studies related to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The estimated market size for the ongoing Phase 2 trials ranges from $1 billion to $2 billion annually.
Collaborative Research and Development
Exicure plans to engage in collaborative research and development with GPCR Therapeutics, focusing on immuno-oncology, fibrosis treatments, and obesity therapies. GPCR Therapeutics, based in South Korea, specializes in GPCR (G Protein-Coupled Receptor) therapeutics, which represents over one-third of all drug targets. The company has secured target patents around prominent GPCRs such as CXCR4 and possesses multiple pipelines addressing blood cancers and solid tumors, genetic disorders, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and obesity. Dr. Pina Cardarelli, formerly Vice President at Bristol-Myers Squibb and a key figure in the development of Yervoy (ipilimumab) and Opdivo (nivolumab), serves as the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of GPCR Therapeutics since 2019.
Financial Investments and ASH Conference Highlights
In 2021, GPCR Therapeutics established a U.S. subsidiary to align its R&D with global pharmaceutical standards. At the American Society of Hematology (ASH) conference from December 7-10, 2024, GPCR Therapeutics presented three exhibits detailing interim results from ongoing Phase 2 trials, data on enhancing treatment efficacy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and preclinical data on boosting T cell responses, including in vivo CAR-T. Exicure completed an $8.7 million capital investment on December 24, 2024. Combined with previous investments, the company plans to secure a total of $14 million, primarily allocated for the acquisition of GPCR USA, clinical trial costs, and ongoing operations.
GPCR Therapeutics' Focus on CXCR4
GPCR Therapeutics' lead small molecule asset, GPC-100/Burixafor, targets CXCR4, a chemokine GPCR overexpressed in various cancers. The company is currently conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial in the U.S. to assess the efficacy of GPC-100 combined with propranolol in multiple myeloma patients. The interaction between CXCR4 and the beta-2 adrenergic receptor (B2AR) presents an alternative signaling pathway dependent on the activation of both CXCR4 and B2AR.
