Genmab partners with Revitope on T cell engager

Genmab, a renowned Danish biotech specializing in antibodies, has entered a collaboration with Revitope Oncology to develop T cell engagers, a type of cancer medication that has gained significant attention this year and is currently being examined for potential use in autoimmune diseases.

Under the terms of the agreement, Genmab will initially pay the Boston-based startup $9 million, with the possibility of further payments totaling up to $600 million if all three target options are pursued. The collaboration will focus on research related to solid tumors over an extended period.

Revitope has a history of partnerships, having previously collaborated with Johnson & Johnson and Junshi Biosciences, both of which have invested in Revitope. Mark Clement, Revitope's Chief Operating Officer, mentioned that the company met the objectives of those partnerships but did not disclose whether those collaborations are still active.

This year, T cell engagers have become prominent in deals and funding. Amgen's Imdelltra received approval in May, and in January, Merck acquired Harpoon Therapeutics for $680 million. Clasp Therapeutics made its debut with $150 million in March, and Candid Therapeutics launched with $370 million in funding last month. Candid is exploring the use of T cell engagers in treating autoimmune diseases, a direction Revitope might also pursue with its new funding, according to Clement.

Revitope’s Chief Scientific Officer, Werner Meier, noted that one of the significant challenges facing T cell engagers tested in solid tumors is on-target, off-tumor toxicity. To mitigate this issue, Revitope is developing dual antigen-binding medications. Meier explained that combining the necessary components — antigens A and B — and their functional assembly on the cell surface allows the creation of T cell engagers that expand the therapeutic window observed.

Clement also mentioned that Revitope is in discussions with other companies and might secure additional partnerships. Revitope’s leading internal candidate, named REV-403, targets EGFR and PD-L1 and is set to undergo GLP toxicology studies shortly, as stated by Meier.

Revitope’s current scientific work is not based on research from the University of Birmingham, as the company has moved away from using that platform.