FRANCE –Domain Therapeutics and Explicyte have announced a collaboration agreement to pool their resources in order to identify G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) targets and associated biomarkers in order to discover and develop breakthrough therapeutic programs for immuno-oncology (IO).
Explicyte has created proprietary RNA-sequencing-based data from preclinical syngeneic tumor models, allowing it to interrogate and decipher transcriptomics from the tumor and its microenvironment, as well as correlate data to response to prototypical immune checkpoint inhibitors.
These findings, which have been cross-validated with clinical RNA-sequencing data, represent a valuable source of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) targets for the development of first-in-class innovative immunotherapies associated with biomarkers for Domain Therapeutics.
“We are very happy to enter into a multi-year collaboration with such a long-standing partner,” said Alban Bessede, CEO of Explicyte.
“With this partnership, Explicyte will use its expertise to fuel and support Domain’s GPCR-targeting pipeline in IO – a great opportunity for Explicyte to participate in this immunotherapy revolution.”
“Explicyte brings together a panel of expertise that perfectly fits with Domain’s capabilities and IO deployment strategy,” added Xavier Leroy, CSO of Domain Therapeutics.
“Having privileged access to -omics data, to discover the next generation of immunotherapies to tackle GPCR-mediated immunoresistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors, has great promise for cancer patients.”
In the same immuno-oncology space, Adagene Inc. has announced a research collaboration with Sanofi in a deal worth up to US$2.5 billion plus royalties, to find “masked” monoclonal and bispecific antibodies that are safer than marketed drugs in oncology.
According to the agreement, Adagene, based in San Diego and Suzhou, China, will produce masked versions of Sanofi antibodies, as well as oversee early-stage research activities with its Safebody technology.
Sanofi will be in charge of all clinical, product development, and marketing activities as well as later-stage research.
Adagene’s SAFEbody technology could solve the safety and tolerability issues associated with various antibody therapies by leveraging precision masking technology to protect the biologic therapy’s binding domain.
The technology can be applied to a variety of treatment modalities, such as monoclonal and bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, T-cell engagers, and fragment crystallizable region (Fc) empowered antibodies.
Sanofi and Exscientia signed a research collaboration and license agreement in January to develop up to 15 small-molecule therapies in oncology and immunology.
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