Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Amgen, Molecular Partners Team On Immuno-Oncology Drugs

Thousand Oaks-based Amgen and Swiss biotech company Molecular Partners AG said Tuesday that the two are in a collaboration and licensing deal, for the commercialization of a molecule aimed at the immuno-oncology area. According to the two, Amgen obtains exclusive global development and commercial rights for MP0310, a preclinical molecule designed to locally activate immune cells in the tumor by binding to FAP on tumor stromal cells (localizer) and co-stimulating T cells via 4-1BB (immune modulator). Amgen will pay $50M upfront, and up to $497M in total to Molecular Partners, dependent on development, regulatory and commercial milestones, in the deal.