Elpiscience, Astellas enter research collaboration and license agreement for novel bispecific macrophage engager

Elpiscience Biopharma, Ltd. and Astellas Pharma Inc. announced a research collaboration and license agreement for novel bi-specific macrophage engagers, ES019 and another programme. The two companies will collaboratively conduct early-stage research for these two programmes. Elpiscience will also grant Astellas the right to add up to two additional programmes to be included in the collaboration. If Astellas exercises its option, Elpiscience will grant Astellas the exclusive right to further research, develop, manufacture and commercialize the products for each programme.

Elpiscience is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing next-generation immuno-oncology therapies for cancer patients worldwide. Their Bispecific Macrophage Engager Platform (BiME) is anti-tumour associated antigen (TAA) and anti-signal-regulatory protein a (SIRPa) bispecific antibody-based platform to activate Tumour Associated Macrophage (TAM) phagocytosis killing towards specific TAA expressing tumour cells. BiME shows highly potent phagocytosis due to engagement of the Fc receptor on TAM and the tumour cells via TAA and SIRPa, and blockade of CD47-SIRPa “don’t eat me” signalling. This platform is utilized for ES019, an anti-PD-L1/SIRPa bispecific antibody.

TAMs are the most abundant leukocytes within Tumour Microenvironment (TME) of many cancer types and correlate with poor prognosis and immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance. The programs emerging from the BiME platform are expected to offer new options for cancer patients who do not respond to existing cancer immunotherapies, by modulating TAM and reprogramming the TME status.

Elpiscience will receive up to US $37 million, including the upfront payment and license option fees. In addition, Elpiscience will receive research funding from Astellas to advance the programs. After Astellas exercises its option, Elpiscience is eligible to potentially receive more than US$ 1.7 billion in payments for the achievement of future development, regulatory, and commercial milestones. Elpiscience is also eligible to receive single-digit to lower double-digit percent royalty payments on net sales for licensed products per each programme.

Darren Ji, MD, Ph.D., chairman and CEO, Elpiscience, said: “We are pleased to collaborate with Astellas, a world leader of innovative medicines, on developing game-changing therapies for cancer. BiME innovated at Elpiscience represents a paradigm shift from the conventional cell engagers dominated by T cells. The therapeutic molecules generated from the BiME platform have the potential of changing the clinical practice for tumours where tumour-associated macrophages are highly abundant, and no effective therapies are available. We look forward to working with Astellas to bring these exciting sciences to the bedside of global patients.”

Adam Pearson, chief strategy officer, Astellas, said: “Astellas has a strong commitment to developing innovative cancer treatments and have positioned immuno-oncology as one of the primary focuses of our R&D strategy. Elpiscience has outstanding expertise in developing next generation immunotherapies. We hope this collaboration will bring synergies between the two companies' cutting-edge research and will ultimately lead to the development of new treatments for patients with cancer.”

Elpiscience is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing life-changing immuno-oncology therapies for cancer patients worldwide. The company’s innovative approach is focused on targeting tumour microenvironment to identify effective mechanisms to kill cancer.

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world.

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