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EvolveImmune engages AbbVie

While AbbVie has made a significant push into ADCs and bispecific antibodies, its work specifically on T-cell engagers has perhaps lagged the likes of Amgen, Johnson & Johnson and Roche. A discovery tie-up with EvolveImmune, a private biotech backed by venture capital from Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb and Takeda, could help remedy this, being focused on the development of T-cell engagers with "integrated co-stimulation". The approach, a key EvolveImmune technology, uses additional engagement of CD2 to amplify tumour killing, while overcoming low tumour immunogenicity and T-cell dysfunction. Though the tie-up is early-stage, a generous-looking up-front fee of $65m indicates significant buy-in from AbbVie. No specific projects have been revealed, but EvolveImmune's currently preclinical pipeline includes CD3 and CD2-engaging trispecific MAbs against the antigens B7-H4 (EVOLVE-106), CD20 (EVOLVE-105) and ULBP2 (EVOLVE-104). Meanwhile, AbbVie's more traditional CD3-based T-cell engagers comprise the marketed anti-CD20 drug Epkinly, and the Teneo-derived anti-BCMA ABBV-383, with ABBV-184 (against Survivin) and the Genmab-partnered GEN1044 (5T4) having been terminated.

 

Selected 2024 deals with a T-cell engager focus

SignedSellerBuyerDealUp-front ($m)Biodollar ($m)
OctEvolveImmuneAbbVieCollaboration to discover CD2-co-stimulated T-cell engagers651,400
OctImmunoPrecise AntibodiesBiotheusLicensing deal to develop TATX-20 (CAXII MAb) for bispecific useUndisclosed
SepBioAtlaContext TherapeuticsLicensing deal covering Nectin-4 T-cell engager BA336215134
AugCuronMerck & CoAcquisition of CD19 T-cell engager CN2017001,300
JulContext TherapeuticsLink ImmunotherapeuticsAcquisition of mesothelin T-cell engager CT-9544
JulKeymedBelenos BiosciencesLicensing deal covering the bispecific MAbs CM512 & CM536Undisclosed170
JunYellowstone BiosciencesVC investorsSeries A financing to develop T-cell engagers2121
MarDassault SystèmesCDR-LifeCollaboration to discover T-cell engagersUndisclosed
MarPierre and Marie Curie CenterBiomunexCollaboration to discover mucosal associated invariant T-cell engagersUndisclosed

Source: OncologyPipeline.

Tags

Molecular Drug Targets