Roche and SQZ expand major cancer immunotherapy partnership

Cell therapy specialist SQZ Biotechnologies has expanded a collaboration with Swiss giant Roche (ROG: SIX) to bring forward candidates based on antigen presenting cells (APCs).

APCs are involved in activating T cell responses and play a critical role in certain responses against viruses and tumors.

The deal, which builds on a major collaboration agreement the firms reached in 2015, seeks to combine SQZ’s cell therapy know-how with Roche’s immunotherapy expertise.