Takeda joins hands with Maverick to improve T-cell redirection therapy for cancer treatment

Washington: US-based Maverick Therapeutics and Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceutical on Wednesday announced that they have entered into a collaboration to develop Maverick’s T-cell engagement platform that was created to improve the utility of T-cell redirection therapy for the treatment of cancer.

The $125 million of funding includes an upfront option, equity and research & development funding payments, and provides Takeda the exclusive right to purchase Maverick after five years for an undisclosed sum. Maverick was founded in 2016.

Takeda Pharmaceutical signed the agreement with Maverick Therapeutics through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Millennium Pharmaceuticals.

Maverick’s novel T-cell engagement format has the potential to eliminate the toxicity challenges inherent in the use of T-cell redirection therapy due to expression of the target antigen on normal tissue. Maverick’s therapeutic antibodies are designed to be inactive upon administration but fully active in the tumour microenvironment, according to a statement.

“We believe that this collaboration validates Maverick’s approach to T-cell engagement in the tumour microenvironment which we believe will allow us to address previously intractable oncology targets,” said Jeanmarie Guenot, co-founder, Maverick Therapeutics. “Importantly, this strong collaboration should allow us to move rapidly to the clinic and address unmet needs in cancer immunotherapy.”

“We see significant potential in Maverick to develop unique, small and customizable T-cell engagement therapeutics,” said Phil Rowlands, interim head, oncology therapeutic area unit, Takeda Pharmaceutical. “Collaborations are critical to helping us advance our aspiration of curing cancer. Working together with Maverick will enable us to leverage a potentially groundbreaking biologics platform to support Takeda’s goal of developing innovative, targeted therapies to treat people with cancer.”

Takeda Pharmaceutical, a global, research and development-driven pharmaceutical company with over 30,000 employees and presence in more than 70 countries, focuses its R&D efforts on oncology, gastroenterology and central nervous system therapeutic areas plus vaccines. Takeda conducts R&D both internally and with partners to stay at the leading edge of innovation.