Leap Therapeutics, Macrocure deal

Leap will merge with Macrocure in a deal that will create a publicly listed company with two clinical-stage immuno-oncology candidates. Leap’s DKN-01, a mAb against dickkopf homolog 1 (DKK1), is in Phase I/II testing for esophageal cancer and cholangiocarcinoma. Leap’s TRX518, a mAb against glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-related protein (GITR; TNFRSF18), is in Phase I development for solid tumors. Last August, Macrocure said a futility analysis showed its cell therapy CureXcell was unlikely to meet the primary endpoint in a Phase III trial to treat venous leg ulcers. ...