Jazz Pharma, AbCellera Collaborate on Next-Gen T-Cell Engaging Antibody Discovery

Editor’s Take: Full integration is provided, from discovery to clinical manufacturing, to target cancers that are difficult to treat.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals and AbCellera have a new preclinical research collaboration, option, and license agreement for T-cell engaging (TCE) multispecific antibodies. Discovery and development of the next-generation antibodies will deliver optimized candidates for multiple gastrointestinal (GI) cancers and other solid tumors.

Jazz and AbCellera Focus Areas

Jazz, a global biopharmaceutical company, has its headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, plus facilities in multiple countries. AbCellera, based in Vancouver, is a clinical-stage biotech specializing in endocrinology, women’s health, immunology, and oncology, among other concentrations.

The collaboration leverages AbCellera’s antibody discovery engine. The company’s T-cell engager platform provides full integration, from discovery to clinical manufacturing, to develop multispecific TCEs for difficult-to-treat cancers.

Platform features include novel, proprietary panels of CD3-binding antibodies, costimulatory targeting arms, multispecific protein engineering tech, and high-throughput functional assays.

AbCellera will carry out discovery and early-stage tasks for two programs initially, committing to start a third within 12 months. Jazz has an option with each program which, if exercised, gives Jazz exclusive, worldwide rights to development and commercialization.

T-Cell Engaging Antibodies Show Promise

“We are pleased to partner with Jazz Pharmaceuticals to leverage AbCellera’s platform,” AbCellera Founder and CEO Carl Hansen, PhD, said. “TCEs drive highly targeted immune activation, which has potential to significantly advance outcomes relative to existing treatments in these cancers.”

“This research collaboration with AbCellera directly aligns with Jazz’s rare disease strategy,” Josh Allen, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Oncology, said. “We look forward to collaborating with AbCellera to progress potential best-in-class multispecific antibodies for GI cancers and other solid tumors.”

Financially, AbCellera is getting $56 million up front for the first two programs, plus $28 million upon initiating the third. If Jazz exercises options, AbCellera could receive up to $792 million per program for various benchmarks and milestones.