On December 15, 2021 Transgene (Euronext Paris: TNG) (Paris:TNG), a biotech company that designs and develops virus-based immunotherapeutics against cancer, reported that AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) has exercised its first license option for an Invir.IO oncolytic virus (OV) developed from their on-going OV collaboration (Press release, Transgene, DEC 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234597225]). The exercise of this option for an OV, integrating an undisclosed transgene, will result in Transgene receiving an $8 million payment from AstraZeneca. Transgene is also eligible to receive development, regulatory and sales-based milestones payments as well as a royalty based on future commercial sales.
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Hedi Ben Brahim, Chairman and CEO of Transgene, commenting on today’s news said, "We are delighted that AstraZeneca has decided to exercise its first license option for an oncolytic virus generated from our on-going Invir.IO collaboration. We have developed a very productive working relationship with the AstraZeneca team and based on long standing expertise developing Vaccinia based viruses capable of carrying payloads that enhance the OV’s antitumoral properties. We are looking forward to seeing this exciting OV candidate progress into clinical development."
Transgene’s Invir.IO collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca started in 2019. Under the terms of the agreement Transgene is contributing its OV expertise, including viral design, and engineering, to the collaboration. It is also providing access to its novel and improved Vaccinia Virus double-deleted (TK- RR-) backbone, which forms the basis for its Invir.IO platform, and is responsible for in vitro preclinical development of the OV candidates generated from the collaboration. AstraZeneca has selected several transgenes to be integrated within candidates generated with the Invir.IO viral backbone and is responsible for further in vivo preclinical development. Under the terms of the agreement, up to five novel oncolytic immunotherapies can be co-developed.
Transgene has an in-house pilot manufacturing capability that allows it to produce GMP batches of Invir.IO drug candidates for clinical development.
Recent clinical data, presented by Transgene in September 2021 at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) virtual meeting confirmed that OVs based on Transgene’s proprietary double deleted VVcopTK-RR- virus backbone can be administered intravenously (see press release here). Transgene believes that Invir.IO OVs delivered via the intravenous route could greatly expand the number of solid tumors that could be treated with this therapy, significantly increasing the commercial potential of Transgene’s OV candidates.