Selecta Biosciences and Takeda Announce Gene Therapy Platform Licensing Agreement

Selecta Bioscience, a biotechnology company specializing in the development of tolerogenic therapies, announced an agreement to license its ImmTOR platform to Takeda on Oct. 4th, 2021. Takeda will use the platform to develop gene therapies for lysosomal storage disorders.

For the use of its platform, Selecta will receive an undisclosed upfront payment and up to $1.1 billion in future additional payments. These payments are contingent on Takeda hitting specific commercial and developmental milestones in their research. Selecta is also eligible for additional royalties following commercialization of the product.

The ImmTOR platform enhances transgene expression, addressing adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector immunogenicity constraints in gene therapy development. Takeda will use its capabilities to enable redosing of therapies throughout the development of the treatment.

“Takeda is an ideal partner to maximize the potential of our ImmTOR platform in gene therapy,” said Carsten Brunn, president and CEO of Selecta, in a company press release. “Their extensive capabilities as a global biopharmaceutical leader and expertise in rare diseases gives us a high degree of confidence that Selecta’s vision will be realized. Together, we look forward to overcoming barriers to current efforts in AAV [adeno-associated virus]-driven gene therapy, as well as striving to address immunogenicity constraints and unmet patient needs.”

“Partnerships are critical as we look to build differentiated gene therapy programs where we have the opportunity to combine novel platform technologies that each aim to solve the challenges associated with first-generation gene therapies,” said Madhu Natarajan, head of Takeda’s rare diseases drug discovery unit, in the press release. “Selecta’s ImmTOR platform is designed to mitigate unwanted immune responses allowing for redosing, which could have broad applicability across our gene therapy programs for a range of diseases.”

Source: Selecta Biosciences