NextCure targeted in cancer drug trade secrets suit
Public biopharmaceutical company NextCure has been accused of misappropriating trade secrets in order to create a direct competitor to a biotech’s cancer immunotherapy technology.
NextCure leveraged trade secrets following several “strategic partnerships” with biotech company Immunaccel, the company claimed, during which Immunaccel sought funding for its research activities.
The confidential information related to the research, design, applications and implementation of a “3D platform” to “study the factors affecting cell migration, and infiltration, with applications to discover… potential drug candidates” for immunology and immuno-oncology (IO) treatments, specifically related to cancer treatments.
The complaint was submitted to the US District Court for the District of Delaware on Tuesday, December 14.
Immunaccel claimed that NextCure “rebuffed all such overtures”, and established a similar drug discovery deal with Eli Lilly focused on drug development in the IO field.
Immunaccel accused NextCure of violating both state and national trade secrets acts and has requested damages awards and a permanent injunction barring NextCure of further misappropriation of confidential information.
Background
Immunaccel’s parent company Screen Therapeutics developed new confidential business and product plans in March 2015 which eventually led to the creation of its “Immune 3D” platform to expand its IO drug research and development.
The platform is used in conjunction with cancer patient cells to screen or test the viability of particular drugs. It sought partnerships with “several major” pharmaceutical companies to help fund the R&D efforts.
Immunaccel approached NextCure to collaborate using its Immune 3D platform in November 2016. As part of the deal, Immunaccel shared confidential information on the process by which Immunaccel adds drug candidates to the platform, the platform’s application in IO drug research, among other confidential information.
In its complaint, Immunaccel alleged that NextCure used the proprietary information gained through the collaboration as a “starting point” to implement its own 3D technology in “direct competition” with Immunaccel’s.
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