Alphabet Doubles Down on Longevity with New Biotech Partnership
Alphabet, the parent company of Google, is further solidifying its commitment to the longevity sector through a notable new biotechnology collaboration. Its subsidiary, Calico Life Sciences, a research organization dedicated to the biology of aging, has entered into a $596 million agreement with Chinese firm Mabwell Bioscience to secure exclusive rights to a promising experimental therapy: 9mw3811, a monoclonal antibody targeting Interleukin-11 (Il-11).
Investing in the Future of Aging Research
Calico Life Sciences, established in 2013, focuses on unraveling the basic biological processes of aging and age-related diseases. The company aims to extend both the lifespan and healthspan of individuals through the request of cutting-edge technologies and innovative research models.
Throughout its history, Calico has forged strategic scientific alliances with leading institutions like the Broad Institute of MIT and harvard, and collaborated with companies such as Abbvie on research programs spanning neurodegeneration, oncology, and metabolic disorders.
Details of the Mabwell Collaboration
The partnership with Mabwell Bioscience, a biopharmaceutical company publicly traded on the shanghai Stock Exchange, involves an initial payment of $25 million, with potential for up to an additional $571 million in milestone payments and royalties.This agreement grants Calico exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize 9mw3811 globally, excluding Greater China.
Targeting Age-Related Illness with a Novel Antibody
9mw3811 represents a first-in-class monoclonal antibody specifically designed to inhibit Il-11, a cytokine implicated in various inflammatory and fibrotic conditions. Preclinical studies suggest its potential in addressing diseases linked to aging, particularly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) – a severe, progressive, and currently incurable lung disease primarily affecting individuals over 60.Mabwell describes the drug candidate as a novel approach to treating fibrosis, acting on mechanisms upstream of fibrogenic processes driven by Tgf-β and other cytokines. Blocking IL-11 could open new therapeutic avenues not only for pulmonary fibrosis but also for other age-associated fibrotic and inflammatory diseases, including cardiac fibrosis, liver fibrosis, and certain neurodegenerative conditions.
Clinical Development Underway
Currently, 9mw3811 is undergoing Phase 1 clinical trials in both China and Australia to assess its safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic properties. An investigational New Drug (IND) application is also active with the US food and Drug Management (FDA), paving the way for upcoming trials in the United States.
While public access to detailed clinical trial registries is limited, mabwell reports that phase 1 trials are being conducted on patients with idiopathic lung fibrosis, with early data indicating promising tolerability and biological activity signals.