Takeda takes up option to buy GammaDelta Therapeutics

Japan’s leading drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4502) today said it is exercising its option to acquire UK-based GammaDelta Therapeutics, an Abingworth portfolio company, focused on exploiting the unique properties of gamma delta (γδ) T cells for immunotherapy.

Through the acquisition, Takeda will obtain GammaDelta’s allogeneic variable delta 1 (Vδ1) gamma-delta (γδ) T cell therapy platforms, which includes both blood-derived and tissue-derived platforms, in addition to early-stage cell therapy programs.

“We’re committed to developing cell therapies that will have an impact on large segments of patients by focusing on off-the-shelf, allogeneic cell therapies that are highly accessible and have the potential to address solid tumors. Collaborating with scientific innovators with unique technology platforms and deep domain expertise, such as the GammaDelta team, allows Takeda to identify and accelerate the most promising approaches that can be developed into products to impact the lives of cancer patients,” said Christopher Arendt, head of Oncology Cell Therapy and Therapeutic Area Unit of Takeda, adding: “Gamma-delta T cell-based therapies represent a differentiated approach to target both solid tumors and hematological malignancies, and we are eager to integrate GammaDelta’s cell therapy platforms into our immuno-oncology R&D efforts.”