With first program nearing clinic, Marengo partners T cell activators with Ipsen

As Marengo prepares to advance its lead T cell activating program into the clinic, a deal with Ipsen will extend its cash runway and send two more molecules derived from the biotech’s platform toward human testing.

Ipsen Group (Euronext:IPN; Pink:IPSEY) is paying $45 million up front for rights to two programs from the Selective T Cell Activation Repertoire (STAR) platform of Marengo Therapeutics Inc. The Cambridge, Mass.-based biotech is eligible for nearly $1.6 billion in milestones, plus royalties, tied to the preclinical therapies...