The start-up company, Jounce is getting $261 million upfront from Celgene to develop and study further an immuno-oncology drug and treatments depending on the patient’s’ needs.

Jounce is a small company with over 60 employees that has been working on a drug that treats cancer cells by using immuno-oncology. The drug, known as JTX-2011 is moving forward to its human trials phase. Celgene is a global biopharmaceutical company, that tries to bring the newest and more innovative forms of current medicine.  Developing new drugs, that use different methods for better results.

The biopharmaceutical company, focuses in the major part of cancer treatments and drugs, although it also works with severe immune diseases. Image Credit: LinkedIn
The biopharmaceutical company, focuses in the major part of cancer treatments and drugs, although it also works with severe immune diseases. Image Credit: LinkedIn

Immuno-oncology, it’s a developing form of cancer medicine that works by using the patient’s own immunological system to fight cancer cells. Over the last few years, the practice has gained more attention.

In the United States, this new form of medicine has brought attention into different sectors including the political. The Obama administration has pledged for a $1 billion investment in this medicine to treat cancer.

A new form of medicine

Company Jounce has been developing its immunotherapy drug for the last couple of years but the approach they are having on the cancer medicine it’s what got Celgene corp to invest in them.

“The approach is not repurposed immunology drugs into oncology but rather to understand human tumors and the immune system cells within these tumors,” said Richard Murray, Jounce Chief Executive.

With Celgene’s investment, both of the companies will aim to develop Jounce JTX-2011 immuno-medicine to treat different types of tumors and cancer forms. Jounce is also working on developing a different approach to immunotherapies and study further what are the causes of this drugs not working for every patient. To further ahead, develop drugs that can adjust to every patient’s needs.

Currently, the company is working on analyzing different patients and their tumors to figure out the correct therapies they should work with along with the JTX-2011 immunotherapy drug.

There are already lots of immunotherapy drugs on the system and working with patients, yet this drugs only work on less than a half of the affected patients. Others don’t respond to the treatment. The deal between Celgene and Jounce will give the second company $225 million up front,  afterward Celgene will make a $36 million investment, giving the opportunity to Jounce to gain over $2,3 billion if the JTX drug hits certain desired measures.

Celgene, based in New Jersey, had announced last year its intentions to invest $1 billion in the start-up company to develop immunotherapies together.

Source: Reuters