British Biotech Startup Partners with Takeda to Advance its T Cell Platform

GammaDelta Therapeutics and Takeda have formed a strategic collaboration to develop a novel T cell platform, which is based on gamma delta (γδ) T cells.

Based in London, GammaDelta Therapeutics builds on the work of Adrian Hayday and Oliver Nussbaumer of Kings College London and The Francis Crick Institute. Backed by the huge British VC Abingworth, the company aims to exploit the unique properties of tissue-resident γδ T cells to develop novel immunotherapies for cancer and autoinflammatory diseases. Now, only one year after the biotech was founded, the company has entered its first strategic alliance with pharma giant Takeda to advance the development of its γδ T cell platform.

Together with Abingworth, Takeda will commit up to $100M (€92M) in funding to accelerate GammaDelta Therapeutics’ R&D platform. In exchange for equity investment and R&D resources, the funding gives Takeda the exclusive right to purchase GammaDelta Therapeutics and allows Takeda to appoint a director to the biotech’s board.

The new collaboration might give the young biotech the necessary push to keep up with the competition. TC BioPharm, based in Scotland, is already in Phase II/III trials with its γδ T cell therapy, while Dutch Gadeta is currently preparing for Phase I trials, after the company raised €7M in Series A last spring.

Images via shutterstock.com / Lukasz Pajor