BioNTech inks $250m deal with Autolus to develop CAR-T assets
BioNTech will purchase $200 million of Autolus Therapeutics’ shares in a private placement to advance both companies autologous CAR-T programs to commercialization.
On top of the $200 million payout for UK-based Autolus’ American Depositary Shares, BioNTech will also make a cash payment of $50 million to be granted the following rights in exchange:
BioNTech will be able to receive mid-single digit royalties on Autolus’ lead chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell candidate obe-cel (obecabtagene autoleucel), which aims to treat adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However, Autolus will keep the full rights to control the development and commercialization of the candidate.
BioNTech can exercise the option to access Autolus’ manufacturing sites in the UK to advance the development of CAR-T candidate BNT211. BioNTech said it aims to have “10 or more ongoing potentially registrational clinical trials in the pipeline” by the end of this year.
Autolus will be responsible for leading the expenses, acceleration, and commercialization of AUTO1/22 and AUTO6NG in any oncology indication with BioNTech eligible to receive milestone payments.
BioNTech has also been granted an exclusive license by Autolus to develop and commercialize therapeutics using its binders and enables cell programming technologies to be used in BioNTech’s antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and cell therapies. If BioNTech decides to use this, Autolus would be eligible to receive payments with low-single digit royalties on sales of the products.
Regardng the binders, a spokesperson told BioProcess Insider Autolus has “ a full suite of technology/binders/safety switches which underpin our best-in-class product portfolio and have been part of a number of collaborations we have signed.”
Additionally, BioNTech will have the right to appoint a board member at Autolus, which the spokesperson said will allow “the board member to set broad policies and makes important decisions as a fiduciary on behalf of the company and its shareholders. Issues that fall under a board's purview include mergers and acquisitions, dividends, and major investments, as well as the hiring and firing of senior executives and their compensation.”
Beyond mRNA
BioNTech became a household name through its second collaboration with Pfizer after the success of BNT162b2 (Comirnaty), which was the first messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine to receive emergency use approval in December 2020.
However, the Germany-based firm has looked beyond mRNA as its dominant modality and has invested in cell therapies, various antibodies, and in April 2023 the firm agreed to pay China-based biotech company DualityBio $170 million upfront to develop, manufacture, and commercialize two antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) assets globally.
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