THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. and
TUEBINGEN, Germany, Jan. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen
(NASDAQ:AMGN) and Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH, a leading company
in the field of cancer immunotherapy, today announced a research
collaboration and exclusive license agreement to develop
next-generation, T-cell engaging bispecific immunotherapies
targeting multiple cancers.
The collaboration will combine Immatics' world-leading
XPRESIDENT® target discovery and T-cell receptor (TCR)
capabilities with Amgen's validated Bispecific T-cell Engager
(BiTE®) technology with the aim of creating novel
oncology drugs. Amgen will be responsible for the clinical
development, manufacturing and commercialization worldwide.
Under the terms of the agreement, Immatics will receive an
upfront fee of $30 million and is
eligible to receive over $500 million
in development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments for
each program and tiered royalties up to a double-digit percentage
of net sales.
"We are very pleased to be entering this strategic collaboration
with Amgen, which is contributing its bispecific T-cell engagers
expertise, as together we look to develop novel immunotherapies
that will deliver a step change in the treatment of several
cancers. This collaboration also demonstrates Amgen's confidence in
Immatics' world-leading immune-oncology target and TCR discovery
capabilities," said Carsten
Reinhardt, M.D., Ph.D., managing director and chief medical
officer at Immatics.
"The intersection of immunology and oncology represents a
promising and rapidly developing approach that can have a
significant impact for patients with cancer," said Sean E. Harper, M.D., executive vice president
of Research and Development at Amgen. "We look forward to
collaborating with Immatics to translate their unique target and
TCR discovery capabilities combined with Amgen's validated
BiTE® technology into novel therapies."
About T-cell Engaging Bispecific Cancer
Immunotherapies
T-cell engaging bispecifics leverage the body's immune system by
redirecting the T-cell response towards cancer cells expressing
specific tumor antigens. Immatics' TCR-bispecifics and Amgen's
BiTE® antibody constructs each possess two or more
binding domains. One such binding domain specific to an
intracellular antigen discovered by XPRESIDENT®
presented on the surface of a cancer cell; another such binding
domain is designed to recognize a T-cell activator, such as CD3.
This approach allows every T-cell to become activated and able to
attack the tumor, independent of the T-cells' intrinsic
specificity. This bispecific approach is designed to improve
the immunotherapies' ability to eradicate malignant cells while
avoiding damage to healthy tissues.
About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking
the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious
illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering
innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools
like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease
and understand the fundamentals of human biology.
Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and
leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health
outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology
pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the
world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached
millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline
of medicines with breakaway potential.
For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow
us on www.twitter.com/amgen.
About Immatics
Immatics is a clinical stage
biopharmaceutical company spearheading the development of advanced
immunotherapies that are active against multiple cancer
indications. Based in Tübingen, Germany and Houston,
Texas, the company has recognized that novel, better and
safer targets are the key to developing future cancer
immunotherapies. Immatics has revolutionized the identification and
qualification of novel, proprietary and tumor-specific peptide
antigens (TUMAPs) by developing its world-leading TCR and target
discovery platform XPRESIDENT®. TUMAPs significantly
expand the target space for immune-oncology as they are not limited
to surface proteins, which are the targets of classical antibodies
or CAR-T therapies. Immatics believes that by using its TUMAP
expertise it can unlock the significant potential of immune
oncology drugs, such as adoptive cellular therapies, biologicals
and vaccines to improve the treatment of a wide range of
cancers.
Immatics' pipeline includes several TCR-bispecifics and T-cell
therapy programs such as ACTolog® and
ACTengine® developed in collaboration with MD Anderson
Cancer Center, Houston,
USA. By using its world leading
target and TCR discovery expertise, Immatics aims to deliver safer,
best-in-class immunotherapies to cancer patients with high medical
needs in multiple indications.
For regular updates about Immatics, visit
http://www.immatics.com
Amgen Forward-Looking Statements
This news
release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the
current expectations and beliefs of Amgen. All statements, other
than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be
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estimates and results. Forward-looking statements involve
significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed
below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange
Commission reports filed by Amgen, including its most recent annual
report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form
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information as of the date of this news release and does not
undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements
contained in this document as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual
results may differ materially from those Amgen projects. Discovery
or identification of new product candidates or development of new
indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement
from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no
guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a
new indication for an existing product will be successful and
become a commercial product. Further, preclinical results do not
guarantee safe and effective performance of product candidates in
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sometimes, even adequately modeled by computer or cell culture
systems or animal models. The length of time that it takes for
Amgen to complete clinical trials and obtain regulatory approval
for product marketing has in the past varied and Amgen expects
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The scientific information discussed in this news release
related to Amgen's product candidates is preliminary and
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CONTACT:
Amgen, Thousand
Oaks
Kristen Davis,
805-447-3008 (Media)
Kristen Neese, 805-313-8267
(Media)
Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060
(Investors)
Immatics, Tuebingen, Germany
Nikola Wiegeler
Immatics Biotechnologies
Phone: +49 7071 5397 110
E-mail: media@immatics.com
David Dible
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Phone: +44 207 638 9571
E-mail: david.dible@citigatedr.co.uk
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SOURCE Amgen