On June 21, 2016 Takara Bio Inc. reported that it has entered into a License and Supply Agreement with Kite Pharma, Inc. ("Kite"), United States, under which Takara Bio grants Kite a commercial license to use applicable patents relating to RetroNectin (Press release, Takara Bio, JUN 21, 2016, View Source [SID:1234513523]). Under this agreement, Takara Bio also provides Kite with reliable supplies of RetroNectin. Takara Bio now has ten licensees permitted to use RetroNectin patents commercially.

The patented technologies licensed to Kite are based on Takara Bio’s proprietary RetroNectin method, which includes a technology enabling highly efficient gene transduction to cells by retrovirus vector and expansion of T-cells with high efficiency. With such advantages, RetroNectin method is now becoming increasingly standard in protocols utilized for "Engineered T-cell Therapy", which includes promising TCR and CAR gene therapies recently raising higher expectations.

Kite is advancing clinical development of several Engineered T-cell Therapy product candidates. Under the agreement signed with Takara Bio, Kite is allowed to use RetroNectin for production of its most advanced product candidate, KTE-C19, a therapy in which a patient’s T cells are genetically engineered to express a CAR designed to target the antigen CD19 for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas and leukemias.

Takara Bio is promoting supply of RetroNectin to clinical development of Engineered T-cell Therapy actively pursued worldwide in recent years, and expects higher sales growth in the future.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
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!