Japan-based Astellas Pharma has signed a contract with United Kingdom-based Adaptimmune Therapeutics to co-develop and co-commercialise stem-cell derived allogeneic CAR-T and TCR T-cell therapies for cancer, it is reported today.

The deal is valued at around USD897.5m.

Under the terms of the deal, both firms will select up to three targets for their collaboration and will co-develop T-cell therapy candidates directed at them. The targets will not include T-cell products that are already undergoing pre-clinical or clinical trials for specific targets, or those developed by Adaptimmune for other partners. According to both firms, the collaboration will make use of Adaptimmune's target identification and validation capabilities for producing target-specific T-cell Receptors, chimeric antigen receptors, and HLA-independent TCRs that identify surface epitopes independently of the tumour cell's human leukocyte antigen profile. Astellas will also hold the right to select two targets and develop allogeneic cell therapy candidates on its own. The total consideration to be paid by the company to Adaptimmune includes USD50m in upfront payment, research funding, milestone payments, and royalties among others.