Galapagos and Adaptimmune sign clinical collaboration agreement
with an option to exclusively license Adaptimmune’s TCR T-cell
therapy candidate, uza-cel, in head & neck cancer and potential
future solid tumor indications
- Adaptimmune and Galapagos
to conduct clinical proof-of-concept trial to evaluate the safety
and efficacy of uza-cel (next generation MAGE-A4 TCR T-cell
therapy) produced on Galapagos’ decentralized manufacturing
platform in patients with head & neck cancer
- Uza-cel has shown
encouraging results in head & neck cancer with partial
responses in four out of five patients to date in a Phase 1 trial
using Adaptimmune’s centralized manufacturing
platform
- Initial in
vitro testing of uza-cel produced on Galapagos'
decentralized manufacturing platform has shown encouraging data
that support further clinical development
- Adaptimmune to receive
initial payments of $100 million, comprising $70 million upfront
and $30 million of R&D funding, option exercise fees of up to
$100 million, additional development and sales milestone payments
of up to a maximum of $465 million, plus tiered royalties on net
sales
- Galapagos has been granted
an option to exclusively license uza-cel for global development and
commercialization in head & neck cancer, and potential future
solid tumor cancer indications
Mechelen, Belgium and Philadelphia, PA,
U.S. and Oxford, UK; 30 May 2024 22:01 CET; regulated information –
inside information – Galapagos NV (Euronext &
NASDAQ: GLPG) and Adaptimmune Therapeutics
plc (Nasdaq: ADAP) announced today that they have
entered into a clinical collaboration agreement with an option to
exclusively license Adaptimmune’s next-generation TCR T-cell
therapy (uza-cel) targeting MAGE-A4 for head & neck cancer and
potential future solid tumor indications, using Galapagos’
decentralized cell manufacturing platform.
Uza-cel is a next-generation clinical-stage
engineered TCR T-cell therapy developed by Adaptimmune, targeting
the MAGE-A4 cancer antigen expressed in various solid tumors.
Uza-cel is engineered to express the CD8α co-receptor alongside the
engineered TCR that targets MAGE-A4. Data indicate that
co-expression of CD8α may broaden and increase the immune response
against solid tumors.1
The Adaptimmune sponsored Phase 1 SURPASS
trial with centrally manufactured uza-cel has shown encouraging
results in head & neck cancer with an overall response rate of
80%. Initial in vitro results suggest that uza-cel, produced on
Galapagos’ decentralized manufacturing platform, yields early
phenotype T-cells that could improve efficacy and durability
compared to uza-cel centrally manufactured on Adaptimmune’s
platform.2 In addition, Galapagos’ decentralized manufacturing
platform offers the potential for the delivery of fresh, fit cells
with a vein-to-vein time of seven days in a patient population in
which rapid access to treatment is vital.
Dr. Paul
Stoffels3,
Galapagos’ Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman: “We are excited to partner with Adaptimmune, a
pioneer in TCR T-cell therapy, as this fully aligns with our
strategic vision to advance novel cell therapies. This
collaboration enables us to expand our oncology cell therapy
portfolio to include treatments for solid tumors and
next-generation therapies, leveraging our innovative, decentralized
cell therapy manufacturing platform. For patients with head &
neck cancer, an area with significant unmet medical needs, this
collaboration offers the promise for faster access to a potentially
transformative treatment.”
Adrian Rawcliffe, Adaptimmune’s Chief
Executive Officer: “Data with uza-cel from our Phase 1
SURPASS trial has demonstrated compelling early results in
ovarian, bladder, and head & neck cancers. In head & neck
cancer, we have seen reductions in target lesions across all
five patients treated to date, and there have been four
confirmed partial responses. Combining uza-cel with Galapagos’
unique decentralized manufacturing platform is a natural synergy
and has the potential to deliver an even more effective
TCR T-cell therapy for people with critical late-stage
cancers.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Adaptimmune
will receive an upfront exclusivity payment of $70 million,
plus $15 million in R&D funding at signing. A further $15
million in R&D funding will follow subject to the start of
dosing in the proof-of-concept trial. Adaptimmune will be
responsible for the clinical proof-of-concept trial in head &
neck cancer and the supply of the vector for the manufacturing of
uza-cel. Galapagos will be responsible for the delivery of fresh
uza-cel product for the head & neck cancer
proof-of-concept trial using its innovative, decentralized cell
therapy manufacturing platform.
Adaptimmune will retain the right to develop,
manufacture, commercialize, and otherwise exploit uza-cel for
platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (currently being developed in the
SURPASS-3 trial).
Following completion of the proof-of-concept
trial, Galapagos has an exclusive option to license global rights
to uza-cel for a maximum of $100 million, depending on the number
of indications in relation to which the option is exercised. In
addition, Adaptimmune is eligible to receive development,
regulatory and sales milestone payments of up $465 million, unless
the agreement is terminated, and tiered royalties on net sales in
the mid-single to low-double digit range.
About Galapagos’ T-cell manufacturing
platformGalapagos’ decentralized, innovative T-cell
manufacturing platform has the potential for the administration of
fresh, fit cells within a median vein-to-vein time of seven days,
greater physician control and improved patient experience. The
platform consists of an end-to-end xCellit™ workflow management and
monitoring software system, a decentralized, functionally closed,
automated manufacturing platform for cell therapies (using Lonza’s
Cocoon®) and a proprietary quality control testing and release
strategy.
About GalapagosWe are a
biotechnology company with operations in Europe and the US
dedicated to developing transformational medicines for more years
of life and quality of life. Focusing on high unmet medical needs,
we synergize compelling science, technology, and collaborative
approaches to create a deep pipeline of best-in-class small
molecules, CAR-T therapies, and biologics in oncology and
immunology. With capabilities from lab to patient, including a
decentralized CAR-T manufacturing network, we are committed to
challenging the status quo and delivering results for our patients,
employees and shareholders. For additional information, please
visit www.glpg.com or follow us
on LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter).
About AdaptimmuneAdaptimmune is
a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on designing,
developing, and delivering cell therapies to transform the lives of
people with cancer. The Company's unique engineered T-cell receptor
(TCR) platform enables the engineering of T-cells to target and
destroy cancers across multiple solid tumor types.
For further information, please contact:
Media
inquiries:Marieke Vermeersch +32 479 490
603 media@glpg.com Jennifer Wilson + 44
7444 896759media@glpg.com |
Investor
inquiries:Sofie Van Gijsel +1 781 296
1143ir@glpg.comSandra Cauwenberghs +32 495 58 46
63ir@glpg.com |
This press release contains inside information
within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse
(market abuse regulation).
Forward-looking statementsThis
press release includes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as
amended. These statements are often, but are not always, made
through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “expect,”
“plan,” “estimate,” “will,” “continue,” “aim,” “intend,” “future,”
“potential,” “could,” “indicate,” “forward,” as well as similar
expressions. Forward-looking statements contained in this release
include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Galapagos’
collaboration with Adaptimmune, including timing for the proof-of
concept trial and payments under the collaboration agreement,
including milestone and royalty payments, the potential benefits of
Adaptimmune’s TCR-T therapy, uza-cel, and the potential benefits of
Galapagos’ decentralized T-cell manufacturing platform.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which might cause Galapagos’ actual
results to be materially different from those expressed or implied
by such forward-looking statements and, therefore, the reader
should not place undue reliance on them. These risks, uncertainties
and other factors include, without limitation, the risk that
Galapagos’ expectations regarding the collaboration with
Adaptimmune, including the potential benefits of such collaboration
may be incorrect, the inherent uncertainties associated with
competitive developments, clinical trials and product development
activities and regulatory approval requirements, Galapagos'
reliance on collaborations with third parties (including its
collaboration partners Adaptimmune and Lonza), as well as those
risks and uncertainties identified in Galapagos’ Annual Report on
Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December 2023 filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and its subsequent filings
with the SEC. All statements other than statements of historical
fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking
statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are
based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and speak
only as of the date hereof, and Galapagos makes no commitment to
update or publicly release any revisions to forward-looking
statements in order to reflect new information or subsequent
events, circumstances or changes in expectations, unless required
by law or regulation.
1 Poster presentation ESMO 2021: Safety and
efficacy from the SURPASS trial with ADP-A2M4CD8, a SPEAR T-cell
therapy incorporating a CD8α co-receptor and an affinity optimized
TCR targeting MAGE-A4, Annals of Oncology, vol. 32, suppl. 5,
pp. S604-S605. Poster presentation SITC 2021: Enhancement of
TCR-engineered T-cells targeting MAGE-A4 antigen by co-expression
of CD8α and inhibition of AKT signaling during ex vivo T-cell
expansion. SITC Annual Meeting. Nov. 10-14, 2021. Washington, DC
and virtual. Emily Schmidt, PhD, et al.2 Data on file3 Throughout
this press release, ‘Dr. Paul Stoffels’ should be read as ‘Dr. Paul
Stoffels, acting via Stoffels IMC BV’
- GLPG Press Release_ADAP collaboration_ENG_30 May 2024
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