CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. has acquired drug conjugate linker-toxin and CD3-based bispecific technologies from Agensys, Inc., an affiliate of Astellas Pharma Inc. CytomX will pay Astellas a one-time, up-front payment.   

“The clinical progress we reported throughout 2018 provided initial proof of concept for our Probody therapeutic platform. This transaction with Astellas provides us with novel payloads and CD3 binding moieties for our next wave of potent anti-cancer agents that leverage our technology, including Probody drug conjugates and Probody T cell engaging bispecifics,” said W. Michael Kavanaugh, M.D. chief scientific officer and head of research and non-clinical development at CytomX.