Takeda Signs Oncology Biotech Deal
Takeda has announced that they have signed a deal with ImmunoGen for two anticancer targets.
Takeda signed the agreement with ImmunoGen through its subsidiary Millennium Pharmaceuticals.
The agreement, which grants Takeda exclusive rights to use ImmunoGen’s ADC technology for anticancer therapeutics, could be worth up to $230m.
Specifically, the Japanese pharmaceutical company has licensed exclusive rights to use the technology -including ImmunoGen’s new DNA-acting IGN payload agents – to develop and commercialise targeted anticancer therapeutics to up to two undisclosed targets.
As part of the deal, Takeda also has the option to take a license for a third target for an additional upfront fee.
In return, ImmunoGen will receive $20m upfront from Takeda, and for each target ImmunoGen is eligible to receive milestone payments, potentially reaching $210m, plus royalties from the sales of any resulting ADC products.
Takeda will be responsible for the development, manufacturing and marketing of any ADC products resulting from the agreement.
ImmunoGen’s president and CEO, Daniel Junius, commented: “Takeda shares our commitment to developing novel anticancer therapies that meaningfully improve the lives of patients, and we look forward to collaborating with them to create important new ADC product candidates.”
Christopher Claiborne, head of the oncology drug discovery unit at Takeda, noted that “ADC technology is a critically important tool in addressing unmet needs in oncology. By partnering with ImmunoGen, we are able to leverage this important technology in Takeda’s R&D program and bring novel agents through the clinic.”