WuXi Biologics, GSK enter into license agreement on multiple novel Bi- & Multi-specific T cell engagers

Under the terms of the agreement, GSK will be granted an exclusive global license for the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of a pre-clinical bispecific antibody that crosslinks tumor cells and T cells by targeting a tumor-associated antigen (TAA) on tumor cells and CD3 expression on T cells and up to three additional pre-clinical TCE antibodies currently at an earlier discovery stage. WuXi Biologics will receive a $40 million upfront payment and up to $1.46 billion in additional payments for research, development, regulatory and commercial milestones across the four TCE antibodies. WuXi Biologics is also eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales.

Read also: GSK Pharma shuts its consumer trade channel, impacting around 200 employees

Dr. Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi Biologics, commented, “This license agreement with GSK represents an important validation of our potential best-in-class CD3 platform and WuXiBody platform, the ‘R’ in our CRDMO business model. This also demonstrates our efforts in offering global open-access technology platforms with premier quality and excellent execution. We are looking forward to enabling GSK to bring these potentially life-saving therapeutics to more patients worldwide.”

Read also: GSK, Wave Life Sciences collaborate to drive development of oligonucleotide therapeutics focusing on novel genetic targets

John Lepore, Senior Vice President, Head of Research GSK, said, “This agreement with WuXi Biologics builds on our oncology portfolio of tumor cell targeting agents by providing GSK with access to potential best-in-class T-cell engaging antibodies that have been optimized for effective tumor killing with a desirable safety profile, offering the potential to address significant unmet medical need in patients with multiple tumor types.”