Mersana Therapeutics and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. have expanded their ongoing collaboration to create Fleximer antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) drug candidates to include additional oncology targets. Mersana is now eligible to receive additional upfront and milestone payments potentially totaling more than $300 million.
 
The collaboration from April 2014 has resulted in the conduct of preclinical, proof-of-concept studies for several Fleximer-ADCs against an undisclosed oncology target under a research license using Mersana’s Fleximer-ADC technology. In October 2014 Takeda exercised an option to license commercial rights for the first drug candidate developed.
 
Mersana is currently conducting research and creating ADCs that are conjugates of Takeda’s antibodies and Mersana’s diverse payload platforms. Takeda is responsible for product development, manufacturing and commercialization of any Fleximer-ADC products. Mersana remains eligible to receive milestone payments and royalties on worldwide sales.
 
“The expansion of our collaboration with Mersana is a testament to the importance of partnership in innovating new treatments for cancer,” said Christopher Claiborne, Ph.D., head of the Oncology Drug Discovery Unit at Takeda. “Now encompassing multiple therapeutic targets and potential drug candidates, we look forward to further advancing the next-generation of ADCs under our expanded collaboration with Mersana with the goal of bringing new therapies to patients around the world.”
 
“We are delighted to expand our relationship with Takeda and are excited about the prospects of Fleximer-ADC candidates that have progressed well into preclinical development,” said Eva M. Jack, chief business officer of Mersana Therapeutics. “Our highly productive strategic partnership with Takeda affords us the ability to advance potential new medicines with superior properties closer to the clinic, as well as enhance our Fleximer platform.”