Dive Brief:
- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) this week announced an expanded partnership with Adaptimmune, potentially worth up to $500 million in development milestones. The collaboration aims to develop Adaptimmune's oncology portfolio, including a T-cell immunotherapy for the treatment or synovial sarcoma.
- Although GSK sold its oncology portfolio to Novartis last year, it is still looking to develop oncologic therapies, especially in immuno-oncology.
- Adaptimmune specializes in CAR-T involving use of allogeneic (HLA-matched) cells for targeted cancer treatments.
Dive Insight:
The original June 2015 deal included options to develop up to five clinical programs, giving GSK a right to move forward with commercialization assuming success. The new $500 million in potential milestones expands the original $350 million in possible cash payments.
It seems the collaboration is moving in the right direction. With this expansion, the collaborative team involved in this partnership will accelerate the development of the lead NY-ESO-1 T-cell immunotherapy program. Additionally, the expanded agreement provides for the possibility of development eight proof-of-principle studies, including checkpoint inhibitors.
The team aims to push the NY-ESO therapy into studies for synovial sarcoma and myxoid round cell liposarcoma.