Roche makes bolt-on I-O acquisition

28 September 2018

Swiss pharma giant Roche (ROG: SIX) has made a third bolt-on acquisition this year, today taking control of Tusk Therapeutics, a UK company that has developed an antibody with a novel mode of action aimed at depleting regulatory T-cells (Tregs).

Tregs suppress immune responses, including those against cancer cells. Preclinical data has shown that depleting Tregs from the tumor microenvironment can enhance and/or restore anti-tumor immunity. Tusk’s antibody has been designed to deplete these harmful Tregs, while not interfering with other immune cells acting against the tumor. Tusk’s program is expected to start clinical trials in cancer patients towards the end of 2019. Tusk was founded in 2014 by Droia Oncology Ventures, Tusk’s majority shareholder.

Deal worth up to 655 million euros

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