- Partnership leverages Medigene’s
leadership for T cell receptor (TCR) generation and
characterization and WuXi Biologics’ unique anti-CD3 mAb, its T
cell engager (TCE) platform and proprietary bispecific antibody
platform WuXiBody™
- Collaboration is a three-year and
potentially multi-TCR program partnership
Planegg/Martinsried, August 8,
2024. Medigene AG (Medigene, FSE: MDG1, Prime Standard)
and WuXi Biologics (stock code: 2269.HK) enter into a three-year,
multi-target strategic partnership to design and co-research T cell
receptor (TCR)-guided T Cell Engagers (TCR-TCEs) for the treatment
of difficult-to-treat tumors. The collaboration combines the
respective expertise of each company with Medigene’s 3S (sensitive,
specific and safe) TCR generation and characterization capabilities
and WuXi Biologics’ unique anti-CD3 mAb, its industry-leading TCE
platform and proprietary bispecific antibody platform
WuXiBody™.
“We are confident that Medigene’s known
capabilities in generating potential best-in-class 3S TCRs for
TCR-T cell therapies can also be applied to non-cellular
modalities,” said Selwyn Ho, CEO of Medigene. “As such, we are
delighted to be able to partner with WuXi Biologics with their
validated anti-CD3 mAb, and its industry-leading TCE platform and
WuXiBody™ to support our strategy to apply Medigene’s TCRs into new
modalities, such as TCR-TCEs for use in patients where additional
value can be created beyond TCR-T therapies, for patients and our
shareholders.”
Dr. Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi Biologics,
commented, “We are excited to partner with Medigene, a leader in
TCR generation and characterization. This collaboration will
further enhance our research service capabilities in our CRDMO
business model and underscore our commitment to enabling global
partners to speed up their novel therapy discovery and development
with our leading technologies and reliable services. I believe the
partnership will be ultimately translated into better treatments
for cancer patients worldwide.”
The companies aim to co-research TCR-TCE
constructs, which will be owned by both cooperation partners with
options to Medigene to further advance their development. The
resulting constructs will leverage Medigene's highly specific 3S
TCRs for comprehensive target recognition, coupled with WuXi
Biologics' unique anti-CD3 mAb, advanced bispecific antibody
technology and leading TCE platform to activate T cells. The
resultant bispecific therapeutics are expected to provide highly
specific targeted immune responses that direct T cells to
effectively attack and kill cancer cells while minimizing
off-target effects, and thereby improve patient outcomes.
The market for bispecific therapies represents a
significant opportunity in the fight against cancer, addressing the
critical unmet need in both solid and hematologic tumors. Annually,
over 5 million cancer patients worldwide, suffering from solid and
hematologic cancers, face low five-year survival rates,
highlighting the urgent demand for innovative treatments.
Bispecific TCR-TCEs offer a promising solution, leveraging the
body's immune system to target and eradicate cancer cells with
heightened precision. The market for these therapies is projected
to experience a remarkable compound annual growth rate of 40.9%
from 2023 to 2030, underscoring the robust and accelerating
interest in this field. By 2030, the market is estimated to exceed
USD80 billion
(https://www.kbvresearch.com/bispecific-antibodies-market/),
reflecting its substantial potential to improve patient outcomes
and revolutionize treatment of cancer and other diseases.
--- end of press release ---
About Medigene AGMedigene AG
(FSE: MDG1) is an immuno-oncology platform company dedicated to
developing T cell receptor (TCR)-guided therapies to effectively
eliminate cancer. Its End-to-End Platform generates optimal 3S
(sensitive, specific and safe) T cell receptors with unique and
distinctive attributes that are utilized in multiple therapeutic
modalities such as T cell receptor engineered T cell (TCR-T)
therapies, TCR-guided T cell engager therapies and TCR-natural
killer cell therapies for both its in-house product pipeline and
partnering.
Medigene’s lead TCR-T program MDG1015 is a
potential best-in-class, TCR-T therapy to treat multiple solid
tumor indications. The End-to-End Platform technologies enable
armoring and enhancing of these T cells to overcome the
immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and ensure the T
cell drug product composition maximizes safety, efficacy and
durability of response. Medigene’s MDG1015 is on track for IND
filing in Q3 2024 and CTA filing in Q4 2024. For more information,
please visit www.medigene.com
About WuXi Biologics
WuXi Biologics (2269.HK) is a leading global
Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization
(CRDMO) offering end-to-end solutions that enable partners to
discover, develop and manufacture biologics – from concept to
commercialization – for the benefit of patients worldwide.
With over 12,000 skilled employees in China, the
United States, Ireland, Germany and Singapore, WuXi Biologics
leverages its technologies and expertise to provide customers with
efficient and cost-effective biologics discovery, development and
manufacturing solutions. As of December 31, 2023, WuXi Biologics is
supporting 698 integrated client projects, including 24 in
commercial manufacturing.
WuXi Biologics views Environmental, Social, and
Governance (ESG) responsibilities as an integral component of our
ethos and business strategy, and we aim to be an ESG leader in the
biologics CRDMO sector. Our facilities use next-generation
biomanufacturing technologies and clean-energy sources. We have
also established an ESG committee led by our CEO to steer the
comprehensive ESG strategy and its implementation, enhancing our
commitment to sustainability.
For more information about WuXi Biologics,
please visit: www.wuxibiologics.com.
About TCR-guided T cell
engagers
TCR-guided T cell engagers (TCR-TCEs) represent
an innovative 'off-the-shelf' immunotherapy that leverages the
specificity of TCRs to guide T cells towards cancer cells. Unlike
conventional antibodies, TCRs can recognize both intracellular and
extracellular targets presented by peptide-HLA complexes on cancer
cells, allowing for a broader range of targetable antigens.
As part of its End-To-End Platform, Medigene
discovers natural TCR sequences with high specificity, sensitivity
and safety (3S). These optimal 3S TCRs can subsequently be merged
with a Cluster of Differentiation 3 (CD3) T cell engaging
antibody.
The TCR-TCEs specifically redirect the patient’s
own T cells towards the cancer cells via binding of the 3S TCR to a
target (cancer-testis antigen or neoantigen) that is almost
exclusively present on tumor cells. The T cells, when brought into
proximity of cancer cells, are activated through the CD3-engaging
antibody, leading to release of cytokines and cytotoxic molecules
that facilitate cancer cell killing.
Development of highly specific TCR-TCEs provides
'off-the-shelf' anti-cancer agents with potential to achieve
similar or complementary anti-cancer effects to those of adoptive
cell therapies.
medigene and wuxi bioThis press release
contains forward-looking statements representing the opinion of
Medigene as of the date of this release. The actual results
achieved by Medigene may differ significantly from the
forward-looking statements made herein. Medigene is not bound to
update any of these forward-looking statements. Medigene® is a
registered trademark of Medigene AG. This trademark may be owned or
licensed in select locations only.
Medigene AG
Pamela KeckPhone: +49 89 2000 3333 01Email:
investor@medigene.com
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Medigene, please inform us by e-mail (investor@medigene.com).