Crescendo Biologics announces early licensing by Takeda of first oncology-targeted Humabody®

On November 30, 2018 Crescendo Biologics Ltd (Crescendo), the drug developer of novel, targeted T-cell enhancing therapeutics, reported that Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda), has exercised an option under its existing, multi-target collaboration and license agreement (Press release, Crescendo Biologics, NOV 30, 2018, View Source [SID1234531757]). Takeda has taken an exclusive licence to Humabodies directed to one of its oncology targets.

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This licence option exercise comes substantially earlier than planned and marks the highly successful delivery and further pre-clinical evaluation by Takeda of Humabody leads meeting its stringent criteria.

Dr Peter Pack, CEO of Crescendo, commented:

"The team at Crescendo has made great progress on our Humabody programmes, working closely with the Takeda team. To date, we have met all the technical milestones on time or earlier than planned, which is proof of our excellent collaboration. We are delighted that the option to license has been taken by Takeda ahead of schedule and look forward to further future successes."

Chris Arendt, Head, Oncology Drug Discovery Unit & Immunology Unit, Takeda, commented:

"At Takeda, we continue to research diverse modalities to bring transformative treatments to patients with cancer. Our decision to exercise the licence was based on the quality of the Humabody leads and the potential we see to develop improved and differentiated immuno-oncology therapies."

Takeda’s option is part of the existing multi-target collaboration and licence agreement announced in October 2016 where Takeda received the right to develop and commercialise Humabody-based therapeutics resulting from the collaboration. Under the agreement, Crescendo is eligible to receive clinical development, regulatory and sales-based milestone payments of up to $754 million plus royalties on Humabody-based product sales by Takeda.