Date: 2018-04-09
Type of information: Collaboration agreement
Compound: allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy
Company: Pfizer (USA - NY) Allogene Therapeutics (USA - CA)
Therapeutic area: Cancer - Oncology
Type agreement: collaboration
Action mechanism: CAR-T cell therapy
Disease:
Details:
- • On April 9, 2018, Allogene Therapeutics announced the completion of the previously announced transaction between Pfizer and Allogene for Pfizer’s portfolio of assets related to allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy, an investigational immune cell therapy approach to treating cancer.
- As a result of the completed agreement, Allogene has received from Pfizer the rights to 16 preclinical CAR T assets licensed from Cellectis and Servier and one clinical asset licensed from Servier, UCART19, an allogeneic CAR T therapy that is being developed for treatment of CD19-expressing hematological malignancies. In partnership with Servier, UCART19 is initially being developed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and is currently in Phase 1. UCART19 utilizes TALEN® gene editing technology pioneered and owned by Cellectis. With the agreement completed, Allogene is well-positioned to rapidly advance the portfolio of CAR T assets contributed by Pfizer into potential innovative new therapies, and ultimately to reach patients in need more quickly.
- • On April 3, 2018, Pfizer and Allogene Therapeutics announced that the two companies have entered into an asset contribution agreement for Pfizer’s portfolio of assets related to allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy, an investigational immune cell therapy approach to treating cancer.
- Allogene, co-founded and led by former executives of Kite Pharma, is ideally positioned to catalyze the development of this allogeneic cell therapy portfolio. Arie Belldegrun, M.D., FACS, Founder and former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kite, will serve as Executive Chairman, and David Chang, M.D., Ph.D., former Executive Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer of Kite, will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer.
- Pfizer views this agreement as an attractive opportunity to support the continued development of allogeneic CAR T therapy in a highly focused and skilled manner. Pfizer will continue to participate financially in the development of the CAR T portfolio through a 25 percent ownership stake in Allogene.
- Separately, Pfizer continues to have an 8 percent ownership stakein Cellectis through an equity agreement entered into in 2014.
- Allogene, a Two River portfolio company, was formed with Series A financing of $300 million from an investment consortium that includes TPG, Vida Ventures, BellCo Capital, the University of California Office of the Chief Investment Officer and Pfizer, among others. TPG, Vida Ventures, BellCo Capital and Pfizer will be represented on the Allogene Board of Directors. Closing is expected in the second quarter of 2018, subject to closing conditions.
- Allogene will receive from Pfizer the rights to 16 preclinical CAR T assets licensed from Cellectis and Servier and one clinical asset licensed from Servier, UCART19, an allogeneic CAR T therapy that is being developed for treatment of CD19-expressing hematological malignancies. In partnership with Servier, UCART19 is initially being developed in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and is currently in Phase I. UCART19 utilizes TALEN® gene editing technology pioneered and owned by Cellectis.Allogene and Servier intend to initiate Phase 2 studies in 2019. Under the terms of the original development agreement, Allogene will have exclusive rights to develop and commercialize UCART19 in the United States, while Servier will retain exclusive rights for all other countries.
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Is general: Yes
