The partnership will refocus on the immuno-oncology collaboration to work on four programs that are advancing through preclinical development, including an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) program targeting B-Cell maturation antigen (BCMA).
Sutro is also planning to produce both GLP and cGMP material based on the advancement of the BCMA ADC program.
These programs are additional to Sutro’s pipeline, which includes two 2018 investigational new drug (IND) candidates STRO-001 and STR0-002.
STRO-001 is an ADC targeting CD74, which is a cell surface protein associated with B-cell malignancies. STR0-002 is an ADC that targets folate receptor alpha which is overexpressed in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and other solid tumors.
Under the 2014 deal, Celgene hold worldwide rights to the first collaboration program to reach IND status.
As part of the newly modified agreement, Celgene can purchase worldwide rights to a second collaboration program to reach IND status, while Sutro will retain US development and commercialization rights and Celgene will retain ex-US rights to the next two programs to reach IND status from the four programs.
The revised deal will also allow Sutro to secure an undisclosed amount based on the achievement of certain development and regulatory milestone achievements.
Additionally, Sutro will grant Celgene the right to acquire shares of its stock in a future private financing and right to purchase shares in a private placement contemporary with an initial public offering by the company.
Sutro CEO Bill Newell said: “Our goal is to continue to build momentum for promising antibody drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies for immuno-oncology therapeutics developed with Sutro’s cell-free protein synthesis platform.
“With this revised agreement, Celgene continues to support Sutro’s development, while we can move rapidly into development of multiple product candidates and evaluate new opportunities for partnerships and funding.”
Image: Celgene and Sutro Biopharma have revised terms of their 2014 immuno-oncology collaboration. Photo: courtesy of PinkBlue / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.