Selexis and Agenus expand immune-oncology cell line deal

After an initial collaboration in 2015, Selexis has signed commercial license agreements with Agenus to develop research cell banks for additional antibody programs.

In 2015, clinical-stage immuno-oncology firm Agenus selected cell line development firm Selexis to collaborate on its lead anti-CTLA4 (AGEN1884) and anti-PD1 (AGEN2034) programs. Four years on and the firms have extended the deal to include the use of Selexis’ SUREtechnology platform with additional novel single agent and combination therapies.

“Under the expanded collaboration, Selexis will continue to develop research cell banks for Agenus’ novel single agent and multi-specific antibody programs using Selexis’ SUREtechnology Platform,” a spokesperson from Selexis told this publication.

Image: iStock/Skarie20

“This innovative cell line development technology features modules that relieve the pressure placed on CHO cells to express novel, complex and difficult-to-press proteins by addressing issues with transcription, translation, glycosylation, folding and secretion bottlenecks.”

Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.

The news comes weeks after Agenus entered into a $1.7 billion (€1.5 billion) agreement with Gilead Sciences to develop immuno-oncology therapies.

“Whilst we are unable to provide details of the specific immuno-oncology candidates in this deal due to confidentiality obligations, it covers multiple immuno-oncology candidates and a central tenet of Selexis commercial license agreements are sub-license rights to collaboration partners,” BioProcess Insider was told.