Takeda Pharmaceutical and GammaDelta Therapeutics (an Abingworth portfolio company) have formed a collaboration to develop GammaDelta Therapeutics’ T cell platform, based on the properties of gamma delta T cells derived from human tissues.
The companies intend to use this platform to discover and develop new immunotherapies, with the aim of treating a broad range of cancers, including solid tumours, and autoinflammatory diseases.
Takeda, together with Abingworth will commit up to $100m in funding to accelerate GammaDelta Therapeutics-led Research and Development.
The funding includes an equity investment, an option fee and research and development funding.
This technology has the potential to address significant unmet needs in cancer and autoinflammatory diseases.
“There is enormous potential for tissue resident gamma-delta T cells to deliver transformative medicines in our core therapeutic areas of oncology and gastroenterology,” said Daniel Curran, MD, Head of the Center for External Innovation, Takeda.
Tim Haines, Managing Partner at Abingworth and a Director at GammaDelta Therapeutics, said:
“This collaboration with Takeda will enable the company to advance the development of this exciting technology, which has the potential to address significant unmet needs in cancer and autoinflammatory diseases.”