Cancer is one of the many devastating conditions across the globe which hundreds of households have had to live with due to lack of affordable treatment. The struggle by patients and their caregivers have birthed a strategic collaboration between Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: ADAP) and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. The partnership will result in the development of allogeneic cell therapies. According to the duo, the treatments could be a game-changing approach for personalized therapy platforms. In any case, ADAP is a leader in cell therapy to treat cancer.
How Significant is the Partnership to the Two Parties?
The primary beneficially of the collaboration is every cancer patient. However, the two companies will also benefit from each other. On one side, it will enhance ADAP’s position in the development of allogeneic cell therapies. In addition, it will build on its in-depth knowledge from autologous clinical programs.
Genentech will also benefit by tapping into ADAP’s know-how given and use the knowledge to advance its commitment to patients and science in the cancer immunology field.
The global head of Pharma Partnering in Roche, James Sabry, noted, “This partnership, which combines Adaptimmune’s allogeneic platform with Genentech’s expertise…holds the promise to change how we treat cancer and brings us another step closer to making personalized healthcare a reality.”
Meanwhile, the value of the partnership is an upfront payment of $150 million and additional payments of $150 million over five years. All this is payable to Adaptimmune.
Significant Results From ADAP’s Phase 1 Trial for Live Cancer
The Phase open-label, dose-escalation clinical trial evaluated the safety, efficacy, and anti-tumor activity of ADP-A2AFP in patients with liver cancer. According to ADAP’s Chief Medical Officer, there was significant and encouraging anti-tumor activity and potential of cell therapy from the treatment of liver cancer.
One of the thirteen patients subjected to the trial reported a complete response and tumor reductions with stable disease. There was also notable disease control in most patients. However, despite all this success, Dr. Bruno Sangro of Clinica Universidad de Navarra has outlined the need for more advanced therapies for cancer patients.
