Mersana, Takeda expand relationship

Mersana Therapeutics Inc. (Cambridge, Mass.) granted Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Tokyo:4502) rights to co-develop Mersana's lead internal program, XMT-1522, a preclinical antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting HER2. Mersana expects to submit an IND for XMT-1522 mid-year and will lead the execution of a Phase I trial. The biotech will retain full commercial rights in the U.S. and Canada, while Takeda will have rights elsewhere. The companies will share worldwide development costs.

The companies also added undisclosed targets to a deal under which the companies are using Mersana's Fleximer technology to create ADCs. The Fleximer technology conjugates a biodegradable hydrophilic polymer to a mAb using a non-releasing linker, to which a payload is added. Takeda selected the new targets and is responsible for providing the antibody. Mersana has an option to co-develop and co-commercialize one program in the U.S.; the option is exercisable at the end of Phase I. ...