AbCellera and AbbVie Broaden Partnership to Create New T-Cell Engagers for Cancer

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--AbCellera (Nasdaq: ABCL) has announced the expansion of its collaboration with AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) to include the development of T-cell engagers (TCE) in the field of oncology. This expansion builds on the partnership initially formed in December 2022, and now entails using AbCellera's TCE platform to create therapeutic antibodies aimed at tumor-specific targets.

Carl Hansen, Ph.D., the founder and CEO of AbCellera, expressed enthusiasm about the expanded collaboration, highlighting the potential of AbCellera's TCE platform to advance novel cancer immunotherapies for patients in need. Under the partnership agreement, AbCellera will spearhead the discovery activities, while AbbVie retains the rights to develop and commercialize any resulting therapeutic antibodies. AbCellera will receive initial and research-based payments and is also eligible for milestone and tiered royalty payments based on net sales.

AbCellera's TCE platform focuses on CD3 T-cell engagers, which hold promise as a foundational approach in cancer treatment. These engagers guide the immune system to locate and destroy cancer cells by simultaneously targeting tumor markers and the CD3 protein on T cells. Despite their potential, the development of T-cell engagers has faced challenges concerning efficacy and safety. To overcome these obstacles, AbCellera has developed a T-cell engager platform featuring novel CD3-binding antibodies, which aim to expand the therapeutic window and incorporate costimulatory elements to boost effectiveness, particularly against hard-to-treat cancers.

AbCellera Biologics Inc., listed as ABCL on Nasdaq, is engaged in the discovery and development of antibody medicines across various therapeutic domains, including oncology, metabolic disorders, endocrine conditions, and autoimmune diseases. AbCellera combines technology, data science, infrastructure, and multidisciplinary teams to tackle complex antibody discovery challenges. The company focuses on advancing its internal pipeline of pioneering programs and actively collaborates with partners in innovative drug development initiatives.