Equillium, Inc. announced on October 31, 2024, that Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. allowed its option to acquire Equillium’s rights to itolizumab to expire. This decision was strategic in nature for Ono and was not related to any clinical program data or observed safety concerns.
As a result, Equillium retains full rights to itolizumab, an anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody, which had received substantial non-dilutive financing from Ono for its research and development since July 2022. This funding had supported the program through milestones including positive interim review from the Phase 3 EQUATOR study and positive topline data from the EQUALISE study.
The company will now evaluate clinical options for the itolizumab program, including potentially accelerating the timeline to topline data for the Phase 3 EQUATOR study in acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) to the first quarter of 2025. Equillium maintains orphan drug and fast track designations for first-line aGVHD.
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