Takeda Announces Multiple Cell Therapy Collaborations to Advance the Company’s Novel Immuno-Oncology Portfolio

New collaborations expand Takeda’s commitment to pursue the discovery of novel cell therapy approaches to treat blood cancers and solid tumors 


CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & OSAKA, Japan-Friday 4 January 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”) (TSE: 4502) today announced new research collaborations in immuno-oncology (I-O), an area of key strategic focus for the company. Through these collaborations, Takeda seeks to accelerate the discovery of next-generation cancer immunotherapies, including novel cell therapy approaches that may provide important opportunities for addressing the needs of patients with hard-to-treat cancers.

“We are excited by the recent momentum in oncology R&D, especially around the curative potential of cell-based therapies through our growing partnership network,” said Phil Rowlands, Ph.D., Head, Oncology Therapeutic Area Unit, Takeda. “We look forward to continuing to collaborate with some of the leading pioneers in the field to fuel research and discovery with the aim of targeting novel mechanisms of action in the cancer-immunity cycle to help us fulfill our aspiration to cure cancer.”

•     Takeda will collaborate with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) to discover and develop novel chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) products for the treatment of multiple myeloma, acute myeloid leukemia and additional solid tumor indications. The broad, multi-faceted collaboration will be co-led by CAR-T therapy pioneer Michel Sadelain, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Center for Cell Engineering at MSK and scientific founder of Juno Therapeutics.
•     Takeda exercised an option under its existing research collaboration with Noile-Immune Biotech Inc. (Noile), which originated in September 2017. Due to the success of the collaboration, Takeda exclusively licensed NIB-102 and NIB-103 for the treatment of various solid tumor indications, and will co-develop these CAR-T cell therapies with Noile utilizing the company’s proprietary “Prime” (proliferation inducing and migration enhancing) CAR-T platform. The company plans to gain regulatory approval for human testing of NIB-102 by the end of this year.
•     Takeda’s exercised option for an exclusive oncology-targeted Humabody® license from Crescendo Biologics will allow Takeda to additionally evaluate these Humabody® VHs for the development of novel CAR-T therapeutics. The development will leverage the unique properties of single-domain tumor-targeted binders as an alternative to conventional single-chain variable fragment (scFv)-based approaches.

Takeda’s diversification into next-generation cell therapy builds directly on its three strategic pillars in oncology: hematologic malignancies, lung cancer and immuno-oncology. Through collaboration with external partners and its newly established translational cell therapy engine, Takeda plans to deliver a rich pipeline of early-stage assets in the coming years.

Takeda has established a new internal translational cell therapy engine with bioengineering, chemistry, manufacturing and control (CMC), clinical and translational expertise. The group aims to rapidly translate innovative and differentiated cell therapy concepts in to the clinic under the leadership of Stefan Wildt, Ph.D., Head of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Translational Engine, Cell Therapies.

“There’s an incredible opportunity to combine promising external innovation with the power of a fit-for-purpose translational cell therapy engine to accelerate the development of truly novel cell therapies,” said Stefan Wildt. “We have assembled a very talented team with deep and relevant cell therapy development experience who will help us achieve this goal.”

About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) is a global, research and development-driven pharmaceutical company committed to bringing better health and a brighter future to patients by translating science into life-changing medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on oncology, gastroenterology and neuroscience therapeutic areas plus vaccines. Takeda conducts R&D both internally and with partners to stay at the leading edge of innovation. Innovative products, especially in oncology and gastroenterology, as well as Takeda’s presence in emerging markets, are currently fueling the growth of Takeda. Approximately 30,000 Takeda employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients, working with Takeda’s partners in health care in more than 70 countries.

For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com/newsroom/.

Takeda Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact, including plans, strategies and expectations for the future, statements regarding the company’s current beliefs and expectations, including as they relate to the development strategy and program. Statements made in the future tense, and words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “continue,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “pro forma,” “intend,” “potential,” “target,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “seek,” “assume,” “will,” “may,” “should,” and similar expressions are intended to qualify as forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management that are believed to be reasonable, though they are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Investors and security holders are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or experience to differ materially from that expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning future drug development plans and projected timelines for the initiation and completion of preclinical and clinical trials; the potential for the results of ongoing preclinical or clinical trials and the efficacy of drug candidates; the potential market opportunities and value of drug candidates; other statements regarding future product development and regulatory strategies, including with respect to specific indications; any statements regarding future financial performance; and any other statements that are not statements of historical fact.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and neither partners, nor Takeda undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances after the date of the forward-looking statement. If one or more of these statements is updated or corrected, investors and others should not conclude that additional updates or corrections will be made.

Contacts

Media outside Japan
David Webster
+1-617-551-7929
david.webster@takeda.com

Media in Japan            
Tatsuhiro Kanoo
+81-3-3278-3634
tatsuhiro.kanoo@takeda.com


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