Italy's Menarini has struck a global licensing deal with US biotech Georgiamune centred on GIM-621, a preclinical-stage small molecule designed to harness the immune system against several types of solid tumours.Georgiamune will receive $45 million in upfront and near-term payments, with the deal's total value reaching $1.1 billion if the potential first-in-class drug clears a series of milestones. The biotech is also eligible for royalties on future sales."This programme is a strong complement to our solid tumour portfolio, and our established oncology development and commercial capabilities position us well to accelerate its progress," stated Elcin Barker Ergun, chief executive at Menarini, in a release Thursday.The Italian pharma's oncology portfolio includes the oral selective oestrogen receptor degrader (SERD) Orserdu (elacestrant) for breast cancer, and Elzonris (tagraxofusp), a CD123-directed cytotoxin and fusion protein for blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm.Stemline Therapeutics, Menarini's wholly owned oncology subsidiary, will gain exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture and commercialise GIM-621. The companies haven't revealed its molecular target or specific indications, nor did they give a timeline as to when the programme would move into clinical testing.Georgiamune, whose work focuses on mechanisms governing immune activation, suppression and homeostasis, is advancing three clinical-stage programmes of its own. These include GIM-407, an oral regulatory T-cell (Treg) activator for autoimmune diseases; GIM-531, an oral Treg inhibitor in oncology; and GIM-122, a dual-functioning antibody being developed for oncology as well.The Maryland-based biotech completed a $75-million series A round in 2023.