The collaboration will identify high-affinity novel antibodies against two different glycoprotein targets, where GO Therapeutics will lead the discovery and Astellas will lead the research, development and commercialisation
Astellas, GO Therapeutics collaborate on immuno-oncology. (Credit: Bokskapet from Pixabay)
Astellas Pharma, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Xyphos Biosciences, has teamed up with GO Therapeutics to develop novel Immuno-Oncology therapeutics.
Xyphos has signed a strategic research collaboration and license agreement with GO Therapeutics.
Under the terms of the agreement, Astellas’ subsidiary will pay upfront cash of $20.5m to GO Therapeutics, in addition to milestone payments totalling up to $763m.
The two companies will work together to identify high-affinity novel antibodies against two different glycoprotein targets and apply them to different therapeutic modalities.
GO Therapeutics will lead the collaboration to discover the antibodies, while Astellas will conduct research activities, clinical development and commercialisation of the antibody therapies.
GO Therapeutics co-founder and CEO Constantine Theodoropulos said: “We are excited to collaborate with Astellas to develop a new class of Immuno-Oncology therapeutics.
“The combination of GO’s targets and antibodies and Astellas’ ACCEL technology promises to create a new generation of cancer treatments that have a greater therapeutic index.
“This will enable oncologists to increase the efficacy of antibody-based immunotherapies for solid tumours with less damage to healthy tissues.”
GO Therapeutics is engaged in implementing new technologies in glycoproteomics to develop antibody-based cancer therapeutics that specifically target cancer cells.
Its antibodies against tumour-specific antigens can be used in different modalities, such as antibody-drug-conjugates, bispecific T-cell engagers and immune-based cell therapies, to treat cancer.
Xyphos has developed a novel and unique ACCEL technology platform that leverages its convertible Chimeric Antigen Receptor (convertibleCAR) on immune cells.
ACCEL technology combines a universal CAR on immune cells such as natural killer (NK) or T cells with bispecific antibody-based molecules to direct immune cells against cancer cells.
Xyphos was established in 2017 and was acquired by Astellas in December 2019.
Astellas chief strategy officer Naoki Okamura said: “At Astellas, we have positioned Immuno-Oncology as one of the Primary Focuses of our R&D strategy.
“We believe that this collaboration will bring synergies between the two companies’ cutting-edge research, and will ultimately lead to the development of new therapeutics for patients with great unmet medical needs.”