On December 5, 2016 Aduro Biotech, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADRO), a biopharmaceutical company with three distinct immunotherapy technologies, reported that an anti-CD27 antibody developed by Aduro Biotech Europe and derived from its proprietary B-select technology has been selected to be advanced into clinical development by Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA (known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada), through a subsidiary (Press release, Aduro BioTech, DEC 5, 2016, View Source [SID1234516924]). CD27 has been recognized as having a critical role in activating a productive anti-cancer immune response and has demonstrated the potential to be combined with checkpoint inhibitors in pre-clinical studies. Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! "Pre-clinical studies have shown that an anti-CD27 agonist can induce a T cell-mediated anti-cancer immune response, and in combination with PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors complete tumor eradication can be achieved," said Hans van Eenennaam, Ph.D., chief operational officer, Aduro Biotech Europe.
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
The CD27 antibody was licensed by MSD to advance as a part of their successful immunotherapy development program and was identified in close collaboration with Prof. Jannie Borst, Ph.D., professor at the University of Amsterdam and division head at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, through Aduro’s B-select monoclonal antibody technology. This technology includes a proprietary ultra-selective functional screening process to identify antibodies with unique binding properties against a broad repertoire of targets that can modulate the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system.
"In 2014, prior to the acquisition by Aduro Biotech, BioNovion entered into a worldwide license agreement with MSD that covers the product candidate’s development and advancement through commercialization," said Andrea van Elsas, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Aduro Biotech Europe. "Both companies recognized the significant potential of targeting CD27 as a new and distinct mechanism in cancer immunotherapy, especially in the context of PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors, and were strongly committed to accelerate a quality candidate into the clinic."
Conference Call with Management
Aduro’s management will host a conference call to review this announcement and provide a program update, including STELLAR, today at 5:30 a.m. PT/ 8:30 a.m. ET. To participate in the conference call, please dial (844) 309-0604 (domestic) or (574) 990-9932 (international) and refer to conference ID 31336163. Live audio of the conference call will be simultaneously webcast and will be available to members of the news media, investors and the general public at View Source
About the Aduro – MSD Collaboration
BioNovion B.V. and MSD, through a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, entered into a worldwide license agreement in 2014 for the development and commercialization of CD27 antibody agonists, and BioNovion received an up-front payment of $15 million. In 2015, BioNovion was acquired by Aduro Biotech and became its subsidiary, Aduro Biotech Europe B.V.
Under the agreement, a Joint Research Committee was formed to advance the program. Aduro has been reimbursed for certain research activities and is eligible to receive future development, commercial and net sales milestone payments. In addition, Aduro is eligible to receive royalties in the mid-single digits to low teens based on any net sales of the product, if it is approved for marketing.