Foghorn Therapeutics cuts 40% of staff after Lilly partnership ends over weak phase-1 data
Foghorn Therapeutics announced it will lay off 40% of its workforce after its long‑standing collaboration with Eli Lilly fell apart due to disappointing phase‑1 trial results.
The partnership, launched in 2021, involved Lilly providing $300 million in upfront cash and an $80 million equity investment to support Foghorn’s BRM‑selective program, an undisclosed cancer target and three discovery projects.
The joint effort produced FHD‑909 (LY4050784), a SMARCA2 inhibitor tested in a phase‑1 study in 2024 for non‑small cell lung cancer patients with SMARCA4 mutations. After reviewing data from the dose‑escalation cohort, the companies decided not to move the drug forward.
Both parties also agreed to end work on a SMARCA2 degrader program and another undisclosed oncology target. Foghorn’s CEO Adrian G expressed disappointment with the clinical results despite a favorable safety profile for the compound.
This writeup was produced by pharmadog from original reporting by Fierce Biotech.
Original headline: “Foghorn lays off 40% of employees as Lilly cancer collab collapses over poor data”
read at Fierce Biotech ↗
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