F-star updates on its collaboration with Denali

Following the announcement of a collaboration between US biotech firm  Denali Therapeutics (Nasdaq: DNLI) and Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4502) to develop and commercialize up to three specified therapeutic product candidates for neurodegenerative diseases, UK biotech F-star has provided an update on its own collaboration with Denali.

These three therapeutic programs are based on Denali's ATV (Antibody Transport Vehicle) technology and include transferrin receptor-specific Fcabs (Fc-domains with antigen-binding activity) that were discovered under the August 2016 collaboration with F-star. This collaboration leverages F-star’s Modular Antibody Technology and Denali’s expertise in the development of therapeutics for neurological diseases. The collaboration is held within F-star Gamma Limited (F-star Gamma), an asset-centric vehicle in the F-star family.

F-star chief executive John Haurum commented: “Denali Therapeutics’ agreement with Takeda is extremely exciting news for F-star and provides clear validation of our technology. It underlines the positive progress in our collaboration.”