Dive Brief:
- Pharma giant AstraZeneca and Heptares have entered into an immuno-oncology partnership which could be worth more than $500 million, assuming full commercialization of the immunocologic therapy HTL-1071.
- The terms of the agreement allow AstraZeneca to research, develop, manufacture, and commercialize HTL-1071.
- One of the differentiating features of HTL-1071 is that it is an adenosine antagonist that works via modulation of T-cells.
Dive Insight:
Given the profile of AZ as a company aiming to bring six new oncology drugs to market by 2020, and the profile of Heptares as a company that focuses on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), this partnership makes sense.
Together, the firms are attempting to move forward with R&D focused on AZ's core areas of oncologic focus, including ovarian, lung, breast, and hematologic cancers.