T cell targeting therapies - January 2021

T cell targeting therapies - January 2021

Janux Therapeutics announced a collaboration with Merck to develop novel drug candidates for immuno-oncology using T cell engager (TRACTr) technology

18 Dec 2020

Janux Therapeutics/Merck – Tumor activated T cell engager (TRACTr) technology

  • Janux Therapeutics announced a strategic collaboration and license agreement with Merck to discover, develop and commercialize innovative, next-generation T cell engager immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer
  • Under the terms of the agreement, Merck has received an exclusive worldwide license to products and intellectual property developed from this collaboration
  • Janux will be eligible to earn up to $500.5 million per target (total 2 cancer targets) in upfront and milestone payments plus royalties on sales of any product derived from the collaboration
  • Merck will fund research and development performed under the collaboration

Big/mid Pharma like Merck, Lilly, and Xencor enter T cell engager space via collaborations and innovative partnerships

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CI Scientists Remarks:

  • In preclinical studies, Janux TRACTr drug candidates have demonstrated comparable anti-tumor efficacy relative to standard T cell engagers but lack the associated liabilities related to cytokine release, healthy tissue toxicities, or systemic immune activation
  • Janux is planning to enter into IND-enabling studies in 2021. Janux TRACTr development pipeline targets multiple solid tumor indications, including colorectal, gastroesophageal, prostrate, NSCLC, triple-negative breast, and ovarian cancers

    Program/Target

    Stage of development

    TROP2-TRACTr

    Lead optimization

    PSMA-TRACTr

    EGFR-TRACTr

    HER2-TRACTr

    Costim bispecific

  • Janux’s TRACTr technology claims to overcome limitations such as DLTs, poor PK profiles, and attenuated efficacy, by integrating tumor-specific activation with crossover PK

– Dr. Kowndinya, CI Scientists

For full story click here

Xencor and MD Anderson entered into a strategic partnership for the patients with cancer, to develop T cell-engaging bispecific antibodies

06 Jan 2021

Xencor/MD Anderson – XmAb technology

  • Xencor and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announced a strategic research collaboration and commercialization agreement to develop novel CD3 bispecific antibody therapeutics
  • This collaboration brings Xencor’s innovative XmAb technology with MD Anderson’s expertise in the research and discovery of novel therapeutic antibodies, including the Oncology Research for Biologics and Immunotherapy Translation (ORBIT) platform
  • Using Xencor’s XmAb bispecific technology, MD Anderson will identify, develop potential antibodies and then conduct all preclinical activities to advance candidates toward clinical studies
  • Xencor has certain exclusive options to license worldwide rights to develop and commercialize potential new medicines arising from the research collaboration
  • Xencor and MD Anderson are entering into a collaboration with two predetermined, undisclosed antibody candidates

CI Scientists Remarks:

  • Xencor’s XmAb bispecific Fc domain enables the fast creation of stable antibodies with novel anti-tumor mechanisms of action
  • Currently, Xencor has 18 candidates under clinical development, engineered with Xencor’s XmAb technology

– Dr. Kowndinya, CI Scientists

For full story click here

Lilly and Merus NV announced a collaboration to discover novel T-cell re-directing bispecific antibodies

19 Jan 2021

Loxo Oncology (Lilly)/ Merus NV – CD3-engaging T-cell redirecting bispecific antibody

  • Loxo Oncology (Lilly) entered into a collaboration with Merus NV to leverage Merus’ proprietary Biclonics platform to develop up to three CD3-engaging T-cell redirecting bispecific antibody therapies
  • Merus will be responsible for the discovery and early-stage research and Loxo Oncology will develop and commercialize the assets

    Upfront cash payment

    $40 million

    Equity investment

    $20 million

    Development and commercialization milestones per product

    $540 million

    Total approximate payment for three products

    $1.6 billion

  • “CD3-engaging bispecific antibodies are rapidly becoming one of the most transformative immune-modulating modalities used to treat cancer. We expect these therapies will become an important component of the Loxo Oncology at Lilly biologics strategy,” said Jacob Van Naarden, CEO of Loxo Oncology at Lilly

CI Scientists Remarks:

  • Merus is developing innovative full-length human bispecific and tri-specific antibody therapeutics referred to as Multiclonics
  • In preclinical and clinical studies, Multiclonics has shown the same features of conventional human monoclonal antibodies, such as long half-life and low immunogenicity
  • Merus in collaboration with Merck is looking at developing its proprietary Biclonics platform aiming to generate CD3 T-cell engager products
  • The drug candidates developed by this collaboration may have a competition with Xencor’s novel CD3 bispecific antibodies
  • CD3 T-cell engager platform includes over 175 novel and diverse anti-CD3 common light chain antibodies

– Dr. Kowndinya, CI Scientists

For full story click here

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