Innovent Biologics Inc (HKEX: 01801), a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercialises medicines for the treatment of oncology, autoimmune, metabolic and other major diseases, has signed a licensing agreement with Alector Inc (NASDAQ:ALEC), a clinical stage biotechnology company involved in the discovery and development of immune system focused therapeutics, it was reported on Wednesday.

The companies have agreed to develop and commercialise an anti-SIRP-alpha antibody (Alector's project code: AL008) intended for the treatment of oncology indications in China.

The product is Alector's novel antibody targeting the CD47-SIRP-alpha pathway, a potent survival pathway co-opted by tumours to evade the innate immune system. It is claimed to be a first-in-class SIRP-alpha inhibitor with a dual mechanism of action that non-competitively antagonises the CD47-SIRP-alpha pathway by inducing the internalisation and degradation of the inhibitory receptor on macrophages to relieve immune suppression while also engaging Fc gamma to promote immuno-stimulatory pathways that drive anti-tumour immunity.

According to the contract, Innovent will lead the development and commercialisation of the molecule in China, including the manufacturing of the product. Alector will lead development of AL008 outside of China. Financial terms of the contract were not revealed.