Benzinga | Jun 1, 2021 12:26PM EDT

Corbus In-Licenses Two Anti-Integrin Antibodies Targeting Cancer, Fibrotic Diseases Settings

* Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:CRBP) has announced licensing deals for two new monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), CRB-601 and CRB-602, that target integrins to inhibit activation of transforming growth factor ? (TGF?).

* TGF? is a multifunctional cytokine involved in many cellular processes, including cell growth and differentiation, immune responses, wound healing, and tissue repair.

* CRB-601 is an anti- ? v?8 mAb expressed by cancer cells. Corbus plans to develop CRB-601 to treat solid tumors in combination with existing therapies, including checkpoint inhibitors.

* CRB-602 specifically inhibits both ?v?6 and ?v?8 implicated in fibrotic diseases and cancers of epithelial cell origin.

* Both the programs are expected to enter Phase 1 studies in 2022.

* The Company's $125 million cash and investments on hand, as of March 31, is expected to fund operations into the first quarter of 2024.

* Under the combined terms of the two exclusive licensing agreements, Corbus will pay $2 million upfront, make potential milestone payments of up to $206 million, and pay low single-digit royalties on sales.

* Price Action: CRBP shares are 6.68% lower at $2.03 during the market session on the last check Tuesday.