Oxfordshire-based firm expands deal with US company
Oxford Biomedica plc, a quality and innovation-led viral vector CDMO, has announced that it has expanded its License and Supply Agreement (“LSA”) with Cabaletta Bio, Inc., a Philadelphia-based clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and launching the first curative targeted cell therapies for patients with autoimmune diseases. This follows on from the LSA announced in January 2022 and adds CD19 as a new target.
Oxford Biomedica initially licensed its LentiVector® platform to Cabaletta Bio for their lead product candidate, DSG3-CAART. The agreement has now been extended to grant a non-exclusive license to Cabaletta under Oxford Biomedica’s LentiVector® platform IP for their CAR-T programme, CABA-201, a 4-1BB-containing fully human CD19-CAR T cell investigational therapy. Cabaletta Bio has received two IND clearances to date for CABA-201 and plans to initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis and a separate Phase 1/2 clinical trial for patients with myositis.
Under the terms of the expanded agreement, Oxford Biomedica will receive an undisclosed upfront payment, as well as additional payments relating to the development and manufacture of lentiviral vectors for use in clinical trials. The Company will also receive certain development and regulatory milestone payments and an undisclosed royalty on net sales of products that utilise the Company’s LentiVector® platform.
Dr. Frank Mathias, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Biomedica, commented: “The expansion of our partnership with Cabaletta Bio stands as a testament to Oxford Biomedica’s unwavering commitment to quality and innovation. As a world-leading CDMO with expertise across all key viral vector types, we are committed to enabling our biopharma customers to discover and deliver transformative therapies. We’re excited to continue our work with Cabaletta and help them deliver accessible cures for patients with severe autoimmune disease.”
Gwendolyn Binder, Ph.D., President, Science and Technology, Cabaletta Bio, commented: “We are delighted to be expanding our agreement with Oxford Biomedica, who have demonstrated their ability to provide quality products and services since the beginning of our partnership. Their commitment to quality and innovation has assisted us in increasing efficiencies and we look forward to broadening this relationship as we prepare for commercial readiness with our lead product candidate, CABA-201.”
Paul Britton, Chief Executive, Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce, commented: “The expansion of this deal serves as an example that Thames Valley-based companies not only possess the qualities which attract international business, but also have the ability to retain, expand and develop existing partnerships to their full potential. We are delighted to see this continued and strengthened partnership.”