GSK and Adaptimmune expand cancer collaboration

UK pharma major GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) has expanded the terms of its agreement with USA-based biotech firm Adaptimmune Therapeutics (Nasdaq: ADAP) to accelerate Adaptimmune’s lead clinical cancer program an affinity enhanced T-cell immunotherapy (GSK3377794) targeting NY-ESO-1 toward pivotal trials in synovial sarcoma. Adaptimmune’s shares rose nearly 6% to $7.83 by mid-morning today.

Adaptimmune and GSK announced a strategic collaboration and licensing agreement in June 2014 for up to five programs, including the lead NY-ESO TCR program. GSK has an option on the NY-ESO- 1 program through clinical proof of concept , and, on exercise, will assume full responsibility for the program. Last year, GSK divested its oncology assets in a swap with Novartis, but said it would continue R&D activity in the oncology arena though not necessarily commercialize resultant products.

Axel Hoos, senior vice president Oncology R&D at GSK, said: “At GSK we’re progressing a pipeline of immuno-oncology therapies to stimulate anti-tumor immunity in patients. As we highlighted to investors at our R&D event last year, this Adaptimmune collaboration is a key element of that pipeline and is part of a comprehensive program for cell and gene therapy. With this expanded collaboration, we have the opportunity to accelerate the lead program in synovial sarcoma toward pivotal trials and also to investigate several other tumor types and combine the T-cell therapy with immune-modulating therapies such as checkpoint inhibitors.”