GSK buys IDRx for up to USD 1.15 billion

As announced previously, the acquisition includes lead molecule IDRX-42, an investigational, highly selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that is designed to improve outcomes for patients with GIST. IDRX-42 has demonstrated activity against all clinically relevant primary and secondary KIT mutations, a key medical need in current GIST treatment. GIST typically presents in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract with 80% of cases driven by mutations in the KIT gene that lead to the growth, proliferation, and survival of tumour cells (primary or activating mutations). 90% of patients treated in the first line develop new KIT mutations (secondary or resistance mutations) that typically lead to relapse with limited therapeutic options.

Hesham Abdullah, Senior Vice President, Global Head Oncology R&D, GSK, said, “This acquisition adds to GSK’s growing pipeline of targeted therapeutics for cancers originating in the gastrointestinal tract. We plan to advance IDRX-42 for second line treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumours, where there are no approved treatments to effectively address all resistance mutations, and accelerate development in an earlier setting.”

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