The collaboration is intended to capitalize on Xoma’s comprehensive antibody discovery, development and production technologies.
Payments to Xoma could exceed $100 million before royalties over the life of the collaboration. The agreement calls for Takeda to make up-front and milestone payments to Xoma, fund Xoma’s research and development activities and pay royalties to Xoma on sales of products resulting from the collaboration.
Xoma will discover therapeutic antibodies against multiple targets selected by Takeda. Other Xoma activities will include preclinical studies to support regulatory filings, cell line and process development, and production of antibodies for initial clinical trials. Takeda will be responsible for clinical trials and commercialization of drugs after IND submission, and is granted the right to manufacture once the product enters into phase II clinical trials.
“Xoma’s extensive antibody discovery and development expertise and technologies fit well with Takeda’s objective of building a strategic presence and pipeline in therapeutic antibodies,” said John Castello, CEO of Xoma.