CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it achieved a clinical candidate milestone under its TCB agreement with Astellas. The clinical candidate is the first Probody TCB molecule to progress in the collaboration and will trigger a $5 million dollar milestone payment to CytomX. CytomX and Astellas are also collaborating on additional conditionally activated TCB programs with CytomX eligible to receive future preclinical, clinical and commercial milestones. CytomX retains a cost share and co-commercialization option on a select number of targets.
“We are pleased with the achievement of the first Probody TCB clinical candidate in our collaboration with Astellas and that our discovery and research capabilities in this important modality continue to deliver next-generation, localized drug candidates. We look forward to continuing to partner with Astellas in advancing novel TCBs towards the clinic and potentially making a significant contribution in bringing the power of T-cell engaging therapies to a broader set of patients with cancer,” said Dr. Marcia P. Belvin, Ph.D., senior vice president and head of research at CytomX.
“The progress with Astellas highlights our strategy to create value through a broad, diversified pipeline of wholly-owned and partnered therapeutic programs as well as expanding our research and development efforts in the field of TCBs. T-cell engaging therapies hold tremendous promise; however, the potency of this modality can lead to widespread activation of the immune system and a narrow therapeutic window. Localizing T-cell activity to the tumor microenvironment could result in important breakthroughs for patients, and the Probody platform has potential to address this challenge,” said Sean McCarthy, D.Phil., chief executive officer and chairman of CytomX Therapeutics.