Takeda Snags UK-Based Cell Therapy Collaborator to Boost Immuno-Oncology Portfolio

October 27th, 2021 – In 2017, Takeda signed a multi-year collaboration with UK-based GammaDelta Therapeutics to develop the latter’s novel gamma-delta (γδ) T cell therapy platforms. As per the deal, it received an equity stake and an exclusive right to purchase the startup.

Earlier today, the Japanese pharma giant announced that it is exercising its option to acquire GammaDelta for a pre-negotiated upfront payment and potential development and regulatory milestones.  The deal is expected to be finalized in the first quarter of Takeda’s fiscal year 2022.

This is not the first time Takeda is acquiring one of its immuno-oncology collaborators. In March, the company spent up to $525 million in upfront payment and potential milestone payments to acquire Maverick Therapeutics after a five-year oncology alliance.

“We’re committed to developing cell therapies that will have an impact on large segments of patients by focusing on off-the-shelf, allogeneic cell therapies that are highly accessible and have the potential to address solid tumors. Collaborating with scientific innovators with unique technology platforms and deep domain expertise, such as the GammaDelta team, allows Takeda to identify and accelerate the most promising approaches that can be developed into products to impact the lives of cancer patients,” said Christopher Arendt, Ph.D., Head of Oncology Cell Therapy and Therapeutic Area Unit of Takeda.

“Gamma-delta T cell-based therapies represent a differentiated approach to target both solid tumors and hematological malignancies, and we are eager to integrate GammaDelta’s cell therapy platforms into our immuno-oncology R&D efforts.”

γδ T Cell Therapy Platforms

Takeda aims to broaden the impact of cancer immunotherapy by focusing on mechanisms that leverage innate immunity, which serves as the body’s first defense mechanism. This involves the activity of cell types, including γδ T cells and NK cells, which prevent cancer’s ability to evade immune recognition.

GammaDelta’s cell therapy platforms include technologies designed to generate both blood- and tissue-derived off-the-shelf, allogeneic immunotherapies based on γδ T cells for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumors. Both platforms have enabled the creation of a portfolio of selective non-engineered and genetically-engineered allogeneic cell therapies that are highly active preclinically against solid tumors and hematological malignancies.

With this acquisition, Takeda will lay its hands on GammaDelta’s allogeneic variable delta 1 (Vδ1) and γδ T cell therapy platforms, which include both blood-derived and tissue-derived platforms, in addition to early-stage cell therapy programs. GammaDelta currently has four candidates, two each for solid tumors and hematological malignancies, in preclinical evaluations.

“Takeda’s exercise of their acquisition option is the culmination of years of a fruitful collaborative partnership and recognizes GammaDelta Therapeutics’ promising progress in developing novel platform technologies to treat solid tumors and hematological malignancies,” said Dr. Paolo Paoletti, CEO of GammaDelta.

“Through our work together, we’ve made great strides in developing our proprietary γδ T cell therapy platforms, which have enabled the development of a pipeline of innovative cell therapies and allowed for the advancement of our first program into Phase 1 clinical development. This acquisition builds on the tremendous work of our talented team and provides the foundations to enable rapid development of a portfolio of innovative allogeneic cell therapies, focused on improving outcomes for patients with cancer.”

Author

Rajaneesh K. Gopinath