Allogene relies on Antion to develop next generation cancer therapies

As part of the agreement, Geneva-based Antion will exclusively collaborate with Allogene on oncology products for a defined period. Allogene will also have exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize products incorporating Antion technology developed during the collaboration. Allogene will provide Antion an upfront cash payment and a preferred equity investment. Allogene will pay Antion developmental and commercial milestones and a single-digit royalty on any product sales. Allogene will also take a seat on Antion’s Board of Directors. 

Antion is an early-stage research company with foundational miRNA technology. In preclinical studies, Antion has demonstrated proof-of-concept for multiplex gene silencing in an allogeneic CAR T cell model. These studies demonstrated the ability of miCARTM technology to silence multiple gene targets in a single step and indicate this technology has broad application within cell and gene engineering. Allogene plans to deploy miCARTM with other technologies to develop next-generation strategies for immune evasion and other advances in allogeneic CAR T therapy. 

Allogene Therapeutics develops AlloCAR T therapies engineered from the T cells of healthy donors. According to the company, these off-the-shelf CAR T therapies, enhanced by gene editing, could be the next most important breakthrough in the field of oncology. In April 2018 Allogene acquired Pfizer’s allogeneic CAR T portfolio and closed one of the largest Series A rounds in biotechnology history—$300 million from a premier investment consortium. The San Francisco based company went public in October 2018.  

“We believe that Antion has one of the few technology options capable of delivering multiplex gene silencing with a high degree of specificity and potency,” said Rafael Amado, M.D., Executive Vice President of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer. “We are excited to be working with Antion to explore how their miCAR technology may advance and accelerate Allogene’s research efforts aimed at creating best in class allogeneic cell therapies.” 

“This collaboration represents an exciting validation of the power and flexibility of our miCAR platform.” said Sven Kili, M.D., Chief Executive Officer . “We are extremely 
enthusiastic to be working with Allogene, as the world leader in Allogeneic CAR T therapies to bring next-generation life changing therapies to patients”

(Press release - ES)