US-based biotechnology company Unum Therapeutics entered a collaboration and license agreement with biotechnology company Seattle Genetics yesterday to develop and commercialise antibody treatments for cancer.
Seattle Genetics is set to make an upfront payment of $25m as part of the agreement, and has committed to contributing $5m to Unum’s next equity funding round. Option fees and milestone payments for the partnership could eventually total $615m.
Unum’s antibody-coupled T-cell receptor (ACTR) technology is able to instruct parts of the body’s own immune system, T-cells, to kill tumour cells.
ACTR relies on monoclonal antibodies, a type of immune cell which attaches itself to tumour cells. They then acts as a bridge for the T-cells, enabling the immune system to kill off the tumour. Unum expects ACTR to be adapted to treat several types of cancer.
Seattle Genetics has built a large portfolio of cancer targets and monoclonal antibodies. The two companies will select suitable candidates from that portfolio to initially develop two oncology therapies, and Seattle Genetics has the option to extend the collaboration to a third drug candidate.
Unum will be responsible for preclinical research through to a Phase 1 clinical trial that will be funded by Seattle Genetics. The two also have the option to co-develop and fund drug candidates beyond the Phase 1 trial.
Unum previously raised $12m in an October 2014 series A round led by Fidelity Biosciences that also included Sanofi-Genzyme BioVentures, which acts as an investment vehicle for pharmaceutical company Sanofi, and venture capital firm Atlas Venture.