Merck continues to boost immunotherapy expertise with collaboration
Merck has continued to strengthen its expertise in immunotherapy with the signing of a research collaboration and licence agreement with Cue Biopharma.
Cue is an immunotherapy company focused on developing biologics engineered to “selectively modulate the human immune system to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases”.
On Thursday, November 16, Cue announced the collaboration, which will see the company earn up to $374 million in milestone payments.
The specific financial arrangements of the deal were not disclosed.
As part of the deal, the parties will use Cue’s Biologics platform, a system for the design and development of Cue’s biologics for in vivo (in the patient’s body) T cell-based immunotherapy.
The multi-year collaboration will encompass several disease targets across certain primary disease indication areas.
In September, LSIPR reported that Merck revealed plans to acquire Germany-based Rigontec for €115 million ($137 million), in a bid to boost its immune-oncology expertise.
According to Merck, the spin-off from the University of Bonn, Germany has pioneered “accessing the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) pathway, part of the innate immune system, as a novel and distinct approach in cancer immunotherapy to induce both immediate and long-term anti-tumour immunity”.
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