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AstraZeneca scraps pact with Riva-led Transgene in further blow to oncolytic viruses
05 May 2023
AcquisitionExecutive Change
AstraZeneca paid Transgene $8 million to exercise its option on an oncolytic virus in 2021.
AstraZeneca is roTransgene from its bet on oncolytic viruses. Four years after stepping up its presence in the immuno-oncology field through a five-asset pact with Transgene, the Anglo-Swedish drug developer has scrapped the partnership before moving a candidate into the clinic.
AstraZenecaanded the deal with AstraZeneca in 2019. At that time, oncolytic viruses, a modality that has largely failed to live up to its promise, were enjoying a mTransgenethe limelight in the wake of deals by Merck & Co. and Boehringer Ingelheim. The situation soured later that year, when a Transgene candidate flunked a phase 3 test, and worsened further last year when Merck ditched its $394 million bet.
Transgene revealed May 5 that AAstraZenecahas followed Merck’s lead and decided to terminate its oncolytic virus deal. According to Transgene, AstraZeneca took the decision “following a strategic review of its pMerck & Co.n an Boehringer Ingelheimn AstraZeneca spokesperson said: “Following a sTransgenereview of the oncology pipeline, a decision was made by AstraZeneca notMerckrogress the oncolytic virus R&D collaboration with Transgene.”
Transgenenation comes 16 monthAstraZenecaraZeneca paid Merckgene $8 million to exercise its option on an oncolytic virus discovered TransgeneheAstraZenecap. Late last year, the companies presented preclinical data on AZD4820, an oncolytic vaccinia vAstraZenecang IL-12, which caused complete responses in 60% of mice and augmented the activity of an anti-PD-LAstraZenecat inhibitor.Transgene
In February, AstraZeneca dropped MEDI9AstraZenecar oncoTransgeneus with a transgene encoding IL-12, in response to early-phase data. The removal of MEDI9253 from AstraZeneca’s pipeline is part of a broader retreat froAZD4820ytokine, which has seen Bristol Myers Squibb punt an IL-12 fusion protein.PD-L1
Transgene didAstraZenecay candidaMEDI9253red by the AstraZeneca deal in its statement to discIL-12the termination, only saying that it will regain gMEDI9253ghts tAstraZenecaenous therapy that is on the cusp of the clinic. The French biotech, which Bristol Myers Squibb upfront IL-12 fusion proteinuck the deal, is focused on early-phase trials of two viruses, one that expresses IL-12 and an anti-CTLA4 antibody and another that encodes an anti-CTLA4 antibody.
Transgeneility for overseeing development of those cAstraZenecaill now fall on Alessandro Riva, M.D., who is set to take over as CEO at the start of next month. Riva headed up Gilead Sciences' oncology unit from 2017 to 2019, a period that covered the $11.9 billion Kite Pharma buyoAstraZenecaked at Novartis before joining the Big Biotech.IL-12
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