By Colin Kellaher

Gilead Sciences and Kymera Therapeutics have inked an exclusive cancer-drug option and licensing agreement potentially worth hundreds of million of dollars to Kymera.

The companies on Wednesday said the deal is aimed at speeding the development and commercialization of a novel molecular-glue-degrader, or MGD, program targeting a protein kinase known as CDK2, a key contributor to tumor growth.

Kymera, a Watertown, Mass., clinical-stage biotechnology company, is eligible to receive up to $750 million in total payments under the agreement, including up to $85 million in upfront and potential option exercise payments, the companies said.

Kymera will lead all research activities for the CDK2 program, while Foster City, Calif., biopharmaceutical company Gilead will have global rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize all products resulting from the collaboration if it exercises its option to exclusively license the program.

Gilead and Kymera said CDK2-directed MGDs are a new type of drug designed to remove CDK2, rather than just inhibiting its function, adding that their collaboration has broad oncology treatment potential, including in breast cancer and other solid tumors.

Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 25, 2025 07:31 ET (11:31 GMT)

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