On November 7, 2019 Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company committed to giving patients back their innate ability to fight cancer, reported that Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, has exercised its final option for an exclusive target under the companies’ collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize novel NK cell engager-based immunotherapeutics generated from Affimed’s ROCK platform to treat multiple cancers (Press release, Affimed, NOV 7, 2019, View Source [SID1234550789]). The target selection triggers a milestone payment, in an undisclosed amount, to Affimed from Genentech.
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
"The designation of the final target marks another milestone for the collaboration, which brings together Genentech’s deep understanding of cancer immunology with Affimed’s expertise in drug discovery and development of innate cell engagers," said Dr. Adi Hoess, Chief Executive Officer of Affimed. "We look forward to achieving further progress toward generating novel therapies that leverage the full potential of the innate immune system to help people living with cancer."
About the Strategic Collaboration Agreement with Genentech
Affimed’s strategic, multi-target collaboration with Genentech was announced in August 2018. Under this agreement, Affimed applies its fit-for-purpose Redirected Optimized Cell Killing (ROCK) platform and engineering expertise to discover and advance NK cell engager-based immunotherapeutics against certain targets selected by Genentech. Affimed and Genentech collaborate on the discovery, early research and late-stage research phases. Genentech is responsible for clinical development and commercialization worldwide. Affimed received $96 million in upfront and committed funding from Genentech in the fourth quarter of 2018 and may be eligible to receive up to an additional $5 billion in development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, plus royalties on sales of any developed products.