AstraZeneca in deal with Immunocore to develop novel cancer therapies

UK privately-held biotech firm Immunocore has signed an oncology research collaboration and licensing agreement with MedImmune, the global biologics R&D unit of Anglo-Swedish pharma major AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN).

Both companies will research and develop novel cancer therapies using Immunocore’s immune mobilizing monoclonal T-cell receptor against cancer (ImmTAC) technology.

The deal comes hot on the heels of AstraZeneca announcement yesterday of a link up with UK-based Horizon Discovery (see separate story) and adds to fast-growing Immunocore’s agreements with UK drug giant GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) focused on developing novel biological drugs called ImmTACs to treat cancer and viral disease worth a potential of over $400 million (The Pharma Letter July 9, 2013) and Switzerland’s Roche (ROG: SIX) for the discovery and development of multiple novel cancer targets using Immunocore’s ImmTAC technology, also worth more than $300 million (TPL July 1).