Feb. 16 Quick Takes: Cytovia, Cellectis partner on TALEN-edited NK cells; plus Cend-Qilu, Iterion and Woodford
Cytovia Therapeutics Inc. and Cellectis S.A. (Euronext:ALCLS; NASDAQ:CLLS) began a strategic R&D collaboration to develop induced pluripotent stem cell-derived NK and CAR-NK cell therapies using TALEN gene editing. Cellectis will receive $15 million in Cytovia equity or in upfront cash if certain conditions aren’t met by Dec. 31 and an option to invest in future Cytovia financings. Cellectis is also eligible for up to $760 million in development, regulatory and sales milestones for the first five products plus single-digit royalties.
Qilu gains Chinese rights to Cend’s pancreatic cancer candidate
Cend Therapeutics Inc. granted Qilu Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. exclusive rights to develop and commercialize CEND-1 in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau in exchange for a $10 million upfront licensing fee and up to $225 million in milestones plus tiered double-digit royalties. Cend is advancing cyclic peptide, which binds α-v integrins and neuropilin to promote drug uptake by tumor cells, into Phase II trials in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel to treat pancreatic cancer...