On April 4, 2022 Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATRA), a leader in T-cell immunotherapy, leveraging its novel allogeneic EBV T-cell platform to develop transformative therapies for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases, reported FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, a subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation (Fujifilm), has completed the acquisition of Atara’s cell therapy manufacturing facility in Thousand Oaks, California for USD 100 million upfront and the commencement of a long-term strategic supply agreement (Press release, Atara Biotherapeutics, APR 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234611418]). This partnership and acquisition was first announced in January 2022.
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With the closing of the transaction, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies will provide Atara with access to the flexible capacity and specific capability needed to manufacture clinical and commercial-stage allogeneic cell therapies for its maturing and promising pipeline, including tabelecleucel (tab-cel), ATA188 for multiple sclerosis, and allogeneic CAR T therapies, ATA3271 and ATA3219.
FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies will also expand use of the Thousand Oaks site to manufacture a broader portfolio of cell therapies by leveraging the experience and expertise of the manufacturing and quality staff who transitioned to FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies.
Atara has retained a talented Technical Operations team who will continue to manage external manufacturing partnerships, manufacturing process science & development, quality assurance, supply chain, and logistics. Atara’s Thousand Oaks-based Atara Research Center (ARC) now houses Atara’s Pre-Clinical, Translational Sciences, Manufacturing Process Sciences, and Analytical Development teams to further drive innovation by leveraging the Company’s unique and differentiated allogeneic cell therapy platform.
The agreement is expected to reduce Atara’s planned operating expenses over the multiyear partnership period. The upfront consideration, along with the reduction in operating expenses, in addition to Atara’s existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments is expected to fund Atara’s planned operations into Q4 2023, beyond the anticipated completion of the randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 study of ATA188, the Company’s investigational off-the-shelf T-cell candidate that has the potential to reverse disability in progressive multiple sclerosis.