Menarini's Stemline signs $1.1 billion deal to license Georgiamune's preclinical cancer immunotherapy

Georgiamune, a Maryland‑based immunology biotech, has granted Stemline Therapeutics, part of Italy's Menarini Group, exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize its preclinical cancer candidate GIM‑621. The agreement includes an upfront payment of $45 million and can total up to $1.1 billion based on milestones and royalties.

GIM‑621 is described as a first‑in‑class oral small‑molecule immunotherapy aimed at treating multiple solid tumors. The drug remains in preclinical testing, and Stemline will assume responsibility for its global development and future commercialization.

Georgiamune CEO Samir Khleif said the partnership allows the company to focus on its broader immunotherapy pipeline while Menarini provides the scale needed for GIM‑621. The firm recently raised a $93 million Series B round and has three other programs in clinical development for autoimmune disease and oncology.

The deal highlights Menarini's strategy to expand its oncology portfolio through external innovation, while Georgiamune retains rights to its remaining pipeline candidates, including the monoclonal antibody GIM‑122 and a small‑molecule Treg inhibitor.