Champions Seals Exclusive Licensing Agreement With Ramot For TAR-1

Champions Biotechnology (Champions) has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Ramot at Tel Aviv University. The licensing agreement encompasses the development and commercialisation of TAR-1, a single-chain antibody fragment in preclinical development that may have an advantage in treating cancer patients because of its high specificity and affinity in binding mutant p53 protein.

Under the terms of the agreement, Champions has obtained the worldwide rights to TAR-1 and is responsible for the further development of the compound. Champions is expected to utilise its Biomerk Tumorgraft platform technology to evaluate the activity of TAR-1 and determine the best path forward for the compound in regards to indication, patient population and potential drug combinations.

However, Ramot will receive an upfront payment and will be eligible to receive milestone payments and royalties if Champions chooses to continue the license terms, which will be determined based on results from testing TAR-1 in the predictive Tumorgraft platform.

TAR-1 will undergo Tumorgraft testing as Champions completes Tumorgraft testing of its other oncology drug, SG410, a tubulin inhibitor.

Guy Malchi, head of corporate development and international operations at Champions, said: “Licensing TAR-1 demonstrates the progression of our strategy to build our own Tumorgraft-driven pipeline of oncology drugs, which we expect to yield improved clinical development success rates. We were impressed by the potential of TAR-1 and we are planning to continue to in-license oncology drug candidates with compelling science and to develop only those with positive Tumorgraft results.”