PARTNERING
Antengene partners with Legochem Biosciences to co-develop ADCs
Antengene announced that it has entered into a Research Collaboration and license option agreement with LegoChem for new ADCs. The two parties will jointly generate and evaluate ADC candidates using Antengene’s antibodies and LegoChem’s next generation ADC technology platform. Antengene will have an exclusive option to license global rights for the development and commercialization of the resulting ADC candidates. When the option is exercised, LegoChemwill be eligible to receive upfront and milestone payments, as well as tiered royalties. In addition, LegoChem is eligible to receive a prespecified percentage of any sublicensing income received by Antengene.
Gilead exercised its options to three Arcus’ clinical programs and adds research collaboration
Gilead has exercised its options to three programs in Arcus’s clinical-stage portfolio, including both anti-TIGIT molecules, domvanalimab and AB308, as well as etrumadenant and quemliclustat. The companies also added a research collaboration as described below. Arcus will receive option payments totaling $725 million. The parties will co-develop and share the global costs related to these programs. If the optioned molecules achieve regulatory approval, Gilead and Arcus will co-commercialize and equally share profits in the U.S. Gilead will hold exclusive rights outside the U.S., subject to any rights of Arcus’s existing collaboration partners, and Gilead will pay to Arcus tiered royalties.
Elicera Therapeutics enters agreement with BioNTech
Elicera Therapeutics’ push to develop novel immuno-oncology therapies just received a significant boost. The company has entered into a collaboration with the German contract development and manufacturing organisation BioNTech for the development of viral vectors to be used in Elicera’s ELC-401 project. Elicera expects to initiate a Phase 1/2 trial with the CAR T-cell candidate in glioblastoma multiforme patients during the second half of 2023.
Cytovia and Cellectis add new CAR targets under their existing collaboration in China
Cytovia Therapeutics and Cellectis expanded their existing partnership to include new CAR target and development in China by Cytovia’s joint venture firm, Cytolynx Therapeutics Hong Kong. The latest deal amended financial terms for the partnerships. Cellectis will have an equity stake of $20 million in Cytovia, and will receive up to $805 million in development, regulatory and sales milestones, plus single-digit royalty payments on net sales. The collaboration expansion will enable Cytovia to develop induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived NK (iNK) products that will leverage the high-precision of transcription activator-like effector nuclease (Talen) to perform gene-editing to minimize the risk of off-target effects and unlock the full potential of NK cells as a first line of defense against cancer.
Cytovia uses custom Talen developed by Cellectis to edit iPSCs. Cytovia is responsible for differentiating and expanding the gene-edited iPSC master cell bank into NK cells. It is also running the preclinical evaluation, clinical development and commercialization of selected therapeutic candidates. With the global license now including China, Cytovia can modify NK cells to address gene targets for therapeutic use in several cancer indications. Cytovia develops allogeneic off-the-shelf gene-edited iNK, as well as CAR NK cells derived from iPSCs and NK cell engager multifunctional antibodies.
