immatics, Roche in cancer vaccine deal
immatics biotechnologies GmbH (Tuebingen, Germany) partnered with Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) to develop and commercialize cancer vaccines and immunotherapies containing tumor-associated peptides (TUMAPs), including immatics' IMA942. Roche will be responsible for the clinical development of IMA942, a TUMAP-based vaccine slated to start a Phase I trial for gastric cancer. immatics will use its antigen discovery platform XPRESIDENT to discover additional TUMAP candidates for vaccines and compounds targeting gastric cancer, prostate cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) peptides. The platform comprises the application of mass spectrometry, genomics, biochemistry and immunology to identify the conformation of the antigen that most closely resembles how it appears on cancer cells. immatics will receive $17 million up front and undisclosed research funding. The biotech is also eligible for over $1 billion in milestones, plus royalties. ...