Astellas adds to immuno-oncology pipeline with deal for bispecifics from Elpiscience

2023-12-28

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Astellas continued to expand in one of its key focus areas of immuno-oncology via a deal with Elpiscience Biopharma focused on bispecific macrophage engagers. The agreement, announced Thursday, includes Elpiscience’s anti-PD-L1/SIRPα bispecific antibody ES019.

The preclinical therapy - based on Elpiscience’s bispecific macrophage engager (BiME) technology - is designed to reactivate macrophages and T-cells to kill cancer cells. ES019 targets SIRPα to block the “don’t eat me” signal, whilst activating the “eat me” signal via Fc engagement, leading to PD-L1 dependent specific phagocytosis of tumour cells.

Along with ES019, Astellas will gain a licence to another undisclosed bispecific macrophage engager, with the companies working together on early-stage research for the two programmes. The Japanese drugmaker also has the right to add up to two additional programmes to the collaboration.

Under the agreed terms, Elpiscience will receive up to $37 million, including an upfront payment and licence option fees, and is eligible for research funding from Astellas. If the Japanese firm exercises its option, Elpiscience is eligible for over $1.7 billion in milestone payments, as well as single-digit to lower double-digit percent sales royalties.

Astellas has been steadily building out its oncology pipeline, with Issei Tsukamoto, global head of business development, calling it a “hot area” for the company earlier this year in an interview with FirstWord. The Japanese firm has inked a number of cancer-focused deals in 2023, including with Cullgen, Phanes Therapeutics, Poseida Therapeutics, Propella Therapeutics and Sony.

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