Takeda Embarks On a Billion-Dollar Gene Therapy Deal with Selecta Biosciences

On October 4th, Japanese pharma giant, Takeda entered into a strategic licensing agreement with Selecta Biosciences, Inc., to use the latter’s gene therapy platform to develop targeted, next-generation therapies for two indications within the field of lysosomal storage disorders.

As per the agreement, Takeda will pay an undisclosed upfront payment and continue to for out close to $1.124 billion in future additional payments if certain milestones are met.

“Partnerships are critical as we look to build differentiated gene therapy programs where we have the opportunity to combine novel platform technologies that each aim to solve the challenges associated with first-generation gene therapies,” said Madhu Natarajan, head of Takeda’s rare diseases drug discovery unit.

ImmTOR Platform

Selecta Biosciences is a Watertown, MA-based biotech that uses its clinically validated ImmTOR platform to develop tolerogenic therapies that selectively mitigate unwanted immune responses. Founded in 2008, the company had so far $281.6 million in funding over 18 rounds, including an IPO in 2016 worth $70 million.

Its lead candidate, SEL-212 , an ImmTOR-powered therapeutic enzyme for chronic refractory gout is currently in Phase 3 trials and the results are expected next year. In addition, many of its gene therapy candidates are in preclinical trials.

“Takeda is an ideal partner to maximize the potential of our ImmTOR platform in gene therapy. Their extensive capabilities as a global biopharmaceutical leader and expertise in rare diseases give us a high degree of confidence that Selecta’s vision will be realized,” said Carsten Brunn, Ph.D., President and CEO of Selecta.

“Together, we look forward to overcoming barriers to current efforts in AAV-driven gene therapy, as well as striving to address immunogenicity constraints and unmet patient needs. This collaboration provides additional validation and further demonstrates the robust value of our ImmTOR platform, which may enable the redosing of potentially life-saving gene therapies. We are excited to expand our growing pipeline with Takeda and build on the momentum of our rapidly advancing proprietary gene therapy programs.”

For Takeda, the partnership has come on the same week it had to halt its narcolepsy program after a safety signal was detected in Phase 2 trials of TAK-994, an investigative treatment for narcolepsy. With this collaboration company is looking to leverage Selecta’s ImmTOR platformenable redosing of transformative therapies.

“Selecta’s ImmTOR platform is designed to mitigate unwanted immune responses allowing for redosing, which could have broad applicability across our gene therapy programs for a range of diseases,” Natarajan added.

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Author

Rajaneesh K. Gopinath