Takeda and Alloy Therapeutics Forge Strategic Alliance to Advance iPSC-Derived CAR-T and CAR-NK Platforms with Significantly Reduced Manufacturing Costs

Nov 21, 2024 16:01 CST Updated 16:01

Alloy Therapeutics

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On November 20 local time, Takeda announced a strategic collaboration and licensing agreement with Alloy Therapeutics.Alloy Therapeutics to Develop Takeda’s Proprietary Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC)-Derived CAR-T Cell Platform (iCAR-T) and iPSC-Derived CAR-NK Platform (iCAR-NK)In order to accelerate the development of key therapies for treating solid and hematologic malignancies.

iCAR-T Technology is part of Takeda's joint research program with Kyoto University's Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), known as the T-CiRA project. This research, named iCART, will be developed in humans by Takeda. The core technology for differentiating iPSCs into immune cells originates from CiRA's Shin Kaneko Laboratory. iCAR-T has the potential to develop "off-the-shelf" cell therapies, offering best-in-class performance and enhanced efficacy, with significantly reduced manufacturing costs compared to autologous cell therapies.

Many large pharmaceutical companies have already laid out CAR-T therapy. Facing competition, Takeda hopes to overtake on the curve by collaborating with Kyoto University, which is at the world's forefront in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, and utilizing CAR-T cells (iCART) derived from Kyoto University's leading iPSC technology to rise from behind.

Yasushi Kajii, Head of Takeda's Japan R&D Division, stated: "iCAR-T is one of the flagship projects of our T-CiRA, a decade-long joint research collaboration with Takeda. This agreement between Takeda and Alloy Therapeutics aims to advance iCAR-T from the discovery phase to clinical development. We are highly impressed by Alloy’s platform technology-focused corporate culture, collaborative flexibility, patient-centric mindset, and company-building capabilities—all of which were key factors in our decision to partner with Alloy. As the technology progresses to the next stage, we look forward to seeing the growth and success of both iCAR-T and iCAR-NK."

According to the agreement, Alloy Therapeutics obtained co-exclusive rights to commercialize iCAR-T and iCAR-NK products for oncology indications. Alloy Therapeutics will leverage the synergies of its unique business model to further advance the iCAR-T/NK platform while enabling broader access to the technology for biotech and pharmaceutical partners to develop cancer treatments, including those for solid tumors. Future clinical validation and platform enhancements will further strengthen the platform.

Alloy Therapeutics Founder, Chairman and CEO Errik Anderson said, "We are delighted to partner with Takeda to fulfill the promise of iPSC. This is another example of how Alloy’s flexible approach enables us to provide cutting-edge technologies to the global scientific community for the rapid and successful development of therapeutics. We believe that close collaboration with the ecosystem will play a crucial role in unlocking the tremendous potential of iPSC and delivering the next generation of cancer therapies."

To support these efforts, Alloy is establishing a Japanese subsidiary in the Shonan Health Innovation Park in Kanagawa Prefecture, led by Victor Stone (Yoshihide Ishii), who will serve as the head of Alloy Cell Therapies and Alloy Therapeutics Japan.

This strategic cooperation represents a significant advancement in the field of cell therapy. The iCAR-T and iCAR-NK platforms could revolutionize cancer treatment by providing "off-the-shelf" solutions that address the major limitations of current CAR-T therapies. Compared with traditional autologous treatments, their main advantages include lower manufacturing costs and improved patient accessibility.

E.N.D

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