Takeda to Acquire GammaDelta Therapeutics to Accelerate Development of Allogeneic γδ T Cell Therapies for Solid Tumors and Hematologic Malignancies

October 27, 2021 / NewsBioonBIOON/ -- Takeda recently announced the exercise of an option to acquire GammaDelta Therapeutics, a company focused onHarnessing the Unique Properties of γδ T Cells for Immunotherapycompany. Through this acquisition, Takeda will acquire GammaDelta'sAllogeneic Variable δ1 (Vδ1) γδ T Cell Therapeutic Platform, in addition to early-stage cell therapy programs, these platforms also include blood-derived and tissue-derived platforms.

Takeda will exercise its option to acquire GammaDelta, paying a pre-agreed upfront fee along with potential development and regulatory milestone payments. This acquisition follows a multi-year collaboration established between Takeda and GammaDelta Therapeutics in 2017 to develop GammaDelta’s novel γδ T cell therapy platform. Under this collaboration, Takeda secured an equity stake and the exclusive right to acquire GammaDelta. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of Takeda’s fiscal year 2022. Closing of the transaction is subject to the completion of antitrust review.

Takeda seeks to expand the impact of immunotherapy in cancer treatment by focusing on mechanisms that harness innate immunity.The innate immune response serves as the body's first line of defense against disease, involving a wide range of mechanisms and cell types, including γδ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, which may help overcome the ability of cancer to evade immune recognition.

GammaDelta Therapeutics’ cell therapy platform encompasses technologies designed to generate blood- and tissue-derived allogeneic immunotherapies based on γδ T cells for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumors. Both platforms support the development of a portfolio of selectively non-engineered and genetically engineered allogeneic cell therapies, demonstrating preclinical efficacy against solid tumors and hematological malignancies.TumorHighly active.

Dr. Christopher Arendt, Head of Cell Therapy and Therapeutics Area at Takeda Oncology, stated: “By focusing on readily available off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapies with the potential to treat solid tumors, we are committed to developing cell therapies that can make a meaningful impact for a broad patient population. Collaborating with scientific innovators who possess unique technological platforms and deep domain expertise, such as the GammaDelta team, enables Takeda to identify and accelerate the most promising approaches that can be developed into products that improve the lives of cancer patients. γδ T cell-based therapies represent a differentiated approach for solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, and we are eager to integrate the γδ T cell therapy platform into our immuneTumorinto medical R&D work." (Bioon.com)

Original Source:Takeda to Acquire GammaDelta Therapeutics to Accelerate Development of Allogeneic Cell Therapies Addressing Solid Tumors