BioCentury
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Immunocore closes second ImmTAC deal

July 10, 2013 12:15 AM UTC

Immunocore Ltd. (Abingdon, U.K.) closed its second pharma deal on Tuesday, partnering with GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE:GSK; NYSE:GSK) to use Immunocore's ImmTAC technology to discover and develop ImmTACs against multiple undisclosed targets selected by GSK for cancer and infectious disease indications. ImmTACs are bi-specific molecules consisting of a soluble monoclonal T cell receptor (mTCR) fused to an anti-CD3 antibody fragment that recruits T cells. GSK will have exclusive, worldwide rights to each ImmTAC program for all indications. Immunocore will develop each product through Phase I testing, after which GSK will be responsible for further development and commercialization. Immunocore is eligible to receive L142 million ($216.2 million) in preclinical milestones across all targets. The biotech also is eligible for up to L200 million ($304.5 million) in clinical and commercialization milestones per product, plus double-digit royalties.

The deal comes less than a month after Immunocore announced a similar partnership with the Genentech Inc. unit of Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) (see BioCentury, July 1). ...