Genmab, Immatics to develop next-generation bispecific cancer immunotherapies

The partnership will engage in the discovery and development of next-generation bispecific immunotherapies for multiple cancer indications.

Under the deal, Immatics will secure an upfront fee of $54m from Genmab. The agreement has an option to secure up to $550m in development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments for each product, and tiered royalties on net sales.

Genmab CEO Jan van de Winkel said: “This collaboration with Immatics gives us the opportunity to combine our unique technologies and expertise to create differentiated novel next-generation therapies. We very much look forward to this exciting partnership in the field of cancer immunotherapy.”

The deal will allow to combine Genmab’s proprietary technologies and antibody expertise with Immatics’ Xpresident targets and T-cell receptor (TCR) capabilities, enabling to enhance Genmab’s knowledge in immuno-oncology.

As per terms of the deal, Genmab will secure an exclusive license to three proprietary targets from Immatics. It is also provided with an option to license up to two additional targets at predetermined economics.

Genmab will provide funding for joint research on multiple antibody and TCR-based bispecific therapeutic product concepts.

Genmab will also take responsibility for development, manufacturing and worldwide commercialization of new product candidate resulting from the deal.

Immatics will be provided with an option to limited co-promotion efforts in selected countries in the EU, for the products that are commercialized by Genmab.

Immatics chief medical officer and managing director Dr Carsten Reinhardt said: “This collaboration underpins Immatics’ leadership in intracellular tumor target identification and T-cell receptor engineering.

“Our bispecific TCR technology exhibits exceptional potency and favourable pharmacokinetic properties by combining Immatics’ proprietary T-cell engaging format with our high-affinity and highly specific T-cell receptors as reported at AACR 2018.”

Genmab is engaged in the development of differentiated antibody therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, while Immatics is involved in the discovery and of T-cell redirecting immunotherapies to treat cancer.