Variant expands pipeline with InflamaCore inflammasome deal

InflamaCore granted Variant exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize IC 100 and related products to treat inflammatory diseases. Variant Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Weston, Fla.) also gained rights to develop companion diagnostics for the mAb targeting the adaptor PYCARD component of multiple inflammasomes. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Inflammasome inhibitors could offer a step change for a slew of inflammatory diseases and pharma has been taking notice. Two acquisitions in six months show that inflammasome target NLRP3 is gaining momentum, but the question is how fast drug developers can discern the best set of indications from the sea of possibilities (see "NLRP3 Early and Often")...