At a Glance
- Companies: Jazz Pharmaceuticals and AbCellera
- Deal value: $56 million upfront, with up to $792 million per programme
- Focus area: T-cell engagers for gastrointestinal cancers and other solid tumours
- Structure: Discovery collaboration with option and licence rights
- Next steps: Start two programmes now and a third within 12 months
What happened?
Jazz Pharmaceuticals and AbCellera announced a preclinical collaboration to discover next-generation T-cell engaging multispecific antibodies for gastrointestinal cancers and other solid tumours. Jazz will pay $56 million upfront for the first two programmes, with a third to begin within 12 months and trigger another $28 million payment.
Why does it matter?
T-cell engagers have shown the most success in blood cancers, but they have had more limited results in solid tumours, where tumour biology is harder to penetrate and immune toxicity can be a concern. A deal like this signals continued industry effort to extend the modality into harder-to-treat cancers.
Who’s behind it?
Jazz Pharmaceuticals is building a broader oncology presence alongside its rare disease business, while AbCellera brings an antibody discovery engine and multispecific platform. AbCellera’s system is designed to generate and optimise T-cell engager candidates for difficult cancer targets.
How was it achieved?
The collaboration is structured as a preclinical research, option and licence agreement. AbCellera will lead discovery and early development work, while Jazz will have the exclusive option to develop and commercialise any programme it chooses to advance.
What’s next?
The partners will move ahead with two initial programmes, then start a third within a year. If Jazz exercises its options, AbCellera could receive up to $792 million per programme in option, development, regulatory and commercial milestones, plus royalties.