At the ongoing AACR meeting, Amgen Inc. provided details on the discovery and preclinical characterization of AMG-305, a novel dual-targeting bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) molecule, being developed as a potential new anticancer agent. While BiTE molecules offer a targeted immune therapy approach to treat cancer, on-target toxicity from normal tissue target expression has been a key issue in the development of T-cell engager molecules in solid tumors.
Seagen Inc. and Lava Therapeutics NV have entered into an exclusive license agreement under which Seagen will work to develop, manufacture and commercialize LAVA-1223, a bispecific T-cell engager designed to target and activate Vγ9Vδ2 T cells in the presence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expressing solid tumors.
DUBLIN – Merus NV is banking $40 million up front, plus an equity investment of $20 million, under a research collaboration and license agreement with Eli Lilly and Co.’s Loxo Oncology arm to develop up to three CD3-directed bispecific T-cell engager antibodies. Each program also has up to $540 million attached in development and commercialization milestones, taking the total potential value of the deal to $1.68 billion. Merus would also receive tiered royalties on any product sales, ranging, in percentage terms, from mid-single-digits to low-double-digits.