Aug. 5 Quick Takes: Kite, Appia working on allogeneic CAR-iNKTs
Plus: Sierra Oncology-AZ, Valneva, Regeneron and more
Three months after emerging from stealth mode, Appia Bio Inc. has clinched a deal with the Kite Pharma cell therapy division of Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) to jointly develop CAR-engineered invariant natural killer T (CAR-iNKT) cell therapies for oncology. The deal includes an upfront payment of undisclosed size and an equity investment; including milestones, its total value could reach $875 million, plus royalties. Appia, which counts Nobel Laureate David Baltimore as a co-founder, launched in May with a $52 million series A round led by 8VC.
Sierra Oncology Inc. (NASDAQ:SRRA) gained an exclusive, global license to AZD5153, a BRD4 inhibitor, from AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NASDAQ:AZN) for $8 million up front and up to $208 million in milestones. The company plans to begin a Phase II study in 1H22 of AZD5153 in combination with JAK inhibitor momelotinib to treat myelofibrosis. ...