Daiichi Sankyo inks Glycotope ADC deal

Under the agreement – which is subject to a feasibility study – Daiichi Sankyo can opt for exclusive rights to develop and commercialise Glycotope’s investigational TA-MUC1 antibody PankoMab-GEX worldwide, with the former’s ADC technology.

Daiichi Sankyo said if it exercises these rights, it will provide Glycotope an upfront payment, as well as developments and sales milestone payments, and royalties.

Daiichi Sankyo spokesperson Jennifer Brennan told us it was too early to discuss promotional activities for the ADC.

The firms did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.

PankoMab-GEX ​

PankoMab-GEX is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that targets the TA-MUC1 – a carbohydrate-induced conformational epitope – which is found in various tumours, such as in the ovary, lunch and breast.

Glycotope said it developed the antibody using its glycol-epitope targeting and glycooptimisation technologies.

“It has potential across a number of cancer types and as a platform for the development of multiple further oncology and immune-oncology products including bi-specifics targeting immune system effects,” ​said Glycotope.

Daiichi Sankyo ADC push​

The Japanese firm said if it chooses to develop the antibody, it will employ its proprietary technology to make an ADC that delivers smart chemotherapy to cancer cells.

The technology is “designed to deliver enhanced cancer cell destruction upon release inside the cell and reduce systemic exposure to the chemotherapy payload compared to the way chemotherapy is commonly delivered.”​

The deal comes six months after Daiichi Sankyo announced​ plans to invest ¥15bn ($135m) into three Japanese manufacturing facilities to support its ADC pipeline.