Juno Therapeutics and WuXi AppTec announce new company to develop novel cell-based cancer immunotherapies in China
JW Biotechnology will Leverage Juno's immuno-oncology expertise and assets and WuXi AppTec's R&D and manufacturing platform
Juno Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on re-engaging the body's immune system to revolutionise the treatment of cancer, and WuXi AppTec, a leading open-access R&D capability and technology platform company serving the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, have started a new company in China.
JW Biotechnology’s mission is to build China's leading cell therapy company by leveraging Juno's world-class chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) technologies together with WuXi AppTec's R&D and manufacturing platform and local expertise to develop novel cell-based immunotherapies for patients with haematologic and solid organ cancers.
James Li, MD, formerly a Kleiner Perkins partner and General Manager of Amgen China, and a JW Biotechnology co-founder, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of JW Biotechnology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
‘Juno's goal is to create novel immuno-oncology therapies to treat cancer patients around the world across a range of cancer types. More than 2.5 million people in China die annually from cancer, making it imperative for us to find an effective structure to reach these patients,’ said Hans Bishop, Juno's President and CEO.
‘WuXi is delighted to work with Juno Therapeutics, a world leader in immuno-oncology, to bring highly innovative cell therapy products to patients in China through JW Biotechnology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd,’ said Dr Ge Li, Chairman and CEO of WuXi AppTec.
‘The Chinese government's regulatory reforms are expected to drive growth and demand for quality medicines that target major unmet medical needs in China, and our mission is to enable the development and commercialisation of therapeutics in China through WuXi's open-access R&D and manufacturing platform, and strategic partnerships with leading organisations worldwide,’ added Dr Li.
‘JW Biotechnology will leverage Juno's expertise in cell therapy technologies and WuXi AppTec's excellence in contract services, and collaborate broadly with Chinese medical communities and government regulators to develop cell therapies that will deliver cutting-edge cancer treatments to Chinese patients. These novel technologies offer a unique opportunity that holds the potential to save lives while transforming the treatment of cancer,’ said Dr James Li, CEO of JW Biotechnology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.