Genentech and Xenova sign deal
Xenova Group, of Slough, UK, has signed an exclusive development and license agreement with San Francisco-based Genentech. The deal, which could be worth up to US$63m (€69m) plus royalties, gives Genentech worldwide rights to develop and market products targeting disorders of the immune system based on Xenova's OX40 receptor protein and anti-OX40 Ligand antibody programmes.
OX40 and OX40 Ligand are a pair of interacting cell-surface proteins that act as co-stimulatory molecules in the initiation of the immune cascade. The therapeutic potential of these cell-surface proteins lies in their ability to modulate the immune system, which could be of benefit in a wide range of diseases including inflammatory and autoimmune disease, infectious diseases and cancer. Xenova is the holder of exclusive licenses to several patents relating to the OX40 platform.
Xenova will transfer to Genentech responsibility for the further development of the relevant programmes, including preclinical and clinical trials, all regulatory filings and the manufacture and sale of any products arising from the agreement worldwide. Xenova retains for its proprietary development and commercialisation in oncology and other applications all rights to OX40 Ligand and stimulatory anti-OX40 antibodies.
David Oxlade, Xenova ceo, commented: 'We are delighted with this new agreement, our third major partnership in the last eight months. The OX40 mechanism has been shown to be a key component of the body's immune system and is an important new therapeutic target.'