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Alphabet’s anti-ageing biotech company, Calico Life Sciences, has signed a deal worth up to $596 million with Mabwell Bioscience, a Chinese pharmaceutical firm, to license a potential treatment targeting age-related diseases. The agreement centers around IL-11 directed therapeutics, particularly 9MW3811, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) currently in phase 1 clinical trials in China and Australia. Calico will pay $25 million upfront as part of the licensing deal, with potential milestone payments making up the rest of the total value.
9MW3811 is designed to target idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a serious age-related lung condition, and Mabwell has also submitted an investigational new drug (IND) application to the U.S. FDA, potentially paving the way for clinical testing in the United States. Under the agreement, Calico gains exclusive development and commercialization rights to the antibody in all regions except greater China.
Founded by Google’s parent company Alphabet and led by biotech veteran Arthur Levinson, Ph.D., Calico is focused on decoding the biology of ageing to develop new therapies for longer, healthier lives. This deal adds to Calico’s growing list of collaborations, which already includes major names like AbbVie and the Broad Institute.
