Human Genome Sciences (HGS) has signed a deal worth up to US$495 M to license FivePrime Therapeutics’ lead pipeline candidate FP-1039, an inhibitor of multiple members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family, in the US, Canada and EU markets. Patients are currently being screened for a Phase II trial of the product for a form of endometrial cancer. FP-1039 will complement HGS’ clinical pipeline, which a week prior to the announcement of the licensing deal with FivePrime saw the US approval of Benlysta® (belimumab), the first new drug for systemic lupus erythematosus in over 50 years.