Vir Biotechnology Completes Exclusive License Agreement with Sanofi for T-Cell Engager Therapies

Vir Biotechnology Completes Exclusive License Agreement with Sanofi for T-Cell Engager Therapies

By, Admin 11 September 2024

Overview

Vir Biotechnology has officially closed its exclusive global license agreement with Sanofi, following the completion of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 review process.

The PRO-XTEN platform is designed to increase the therapeutic index (TI) of TCEs, cytokines, and other treatments. It works by exploiting the high protease activity in the tumour microenvironment to ""unmask"" drugs specifically at the tumour site. 

For Minimizing Side Effects

  • This selective activation aims to minimise side effects and off-target toxicity, which are common issues with traditional TCE therapies. 
  • Vir has secured exclusive rights to this platform for oncology and infectious disease applications.

This agreement, first announced on 1st August 2024, gives Vir the worldwide rights to three clinical-stage masked T-cell engagers (TCEs), which show potential in treating various cancers. 

Access to Sanofi’s Proprietary PRO-XTEN™

  • It also grants Vir access to Sanofi’s proprietary PRO-XTEN™ masking platform for use in oncology and infectious diseases. 
  • Several key scientists and developers from Sanofi, who bring significant expertise in TCEs and the PRO-XTEN platform, will now join Vir’s team.

Milestone for Vir Biotechnology

  • This agreement marks an important milestone for Vir and presents an opportunity to address unmet medical needs. 
  • Vir Biotechnology are eager to push forward the development of these masked T-cell engagers, strengthening our clinical pipeline and creating opportunities for value creation in the near future.

About Trials

SAR446309: A HER2-targeted TCE currently in phase 1 trials, aimed at treating metastatic HER2-positive cancers like breast and colorectal cancers.
SAR446329: A PSMA-targeted TCE in phase 1 trials for treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
SAR446368: An EGFR-targeted TCE with an active IND, set to begin phase 1 trials in early 2025 for treating EGFR-expressing tumours.
Combining Vir Biotechnology expertise in antibody engineering with the innovative PRO-XTEN platform puts us in a unique position to develop therapies for both cancer and infectious diseases.