Epitopea and Genevant Sciences Announce Collaboration Agreement
CAMBRIDGE, UK, MONTREAL, CANADA, VANCOUVER, CANADA, and BASEL, SWITZERLAND — December 19, 2024 — Epitopea, a transatlantic cancer immunotherapeutics company developing accessible off-the-shelf RNA-based immunotherapies, and Genevant Sciences, a leading nucleic acid delivery company with world-class platforms and a robust and expansive lipid nanoparticle (LNP) patent portfolio, today announced that they have entered into a collaboration and nonexclusive license agreement to develop novel mRNA-LNP immunotherapies targeting Epitopea’s proprietary aberrantly-expressed tumor specific antigens (aeTSAs), called CryptigensTM, for an undisclosed oncology indication.
“At Epitopea we continue to accelerate our near-term clinical development plans for our next generation, tumor selective, off-the-shelf, RNA-based immunotherapies that we believe have the potential to extend the durability of clinical responses in patients. Access to world-class LNP delivery technology in support of our vision is critical. Genevant is a longstanding leader in the LNP space, and we are excited about the translational path forward,” said Alan Rigby, Chief Executive Officer of Epitopea.
“Our clinically validated LNP technology and decades of experience in the space make us a partner of choice for innovative RNA-based immunotherapy companies,” said James Heyes, Chief Scientific Officer of Genevant Sciences. “We are delighted to be collaborating with the Epitopea team and supporting its mission to extend the durability of clinical response in cancer patients.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Genevant granted to Epitopea a nonexclusive worldwide license to certain Genevant LNP technology to develop RNA-based immunotherapies targeting Epitopea’s Cryptigen™ TSAs in an undisclosed oncology indication. Genevant is eligible to receive up to $123.5 million in upfront and contingent milestone payments per product and tiered royalties ranging from the mid to high single digits on future product sales.
