Catalent Biologics, Triphase Enter ADC License Agreement

Catalent has entered an agreement with Triphase Accelerator Corp., a company that acquires and develops cancer therapies, under which Triphase will obtain worldwide rights to further develop Catalent’s CD22-4AP Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC). The drug was developed by Catalent’s subsidiary, Redwood Bioscience, Inc., using its SMARTag technology platform.

Catalent will receive an upfront payment and potential development and commercial milestones, plus royalties on product sales. Triphase will also contract with Catalent for development, manufacturing and analytical services.

CD22-4AP is a site-specific ADC targeting CD22, an important modulator of B-cell signaling and survival, which is expressed on 90% of B-cell malignancies. CD22 is a clinically validated ADC target with potential in Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) and Acute Lymphoid Leukemia (ALL).

Dr. Mohit Trikha, chief scientific officer, executive vice president and head of R&D at Triphase, said, “Given our deep experience in investigating potential treatment for blood cancers and oncology clinical drug development, it is a logical progression for us to explore other approaches for other hematologic tumors. We believe in the potential of Catalent’s SMARTag technology and look forward to advancing CD22-4AP to clinical proof of concept studies.”

“Triphase has demonstrated expertise and a track record in advancing pre-clinical oncology candidates to clinical proof of concept,” added Mike Riley, Catalent Biologics’ vice president and general manager. “We look forward to leveraging Triphase’s expertise in combination with our proprietary SMARTag technology and supporting infrastructure to bring this potentially transformational treatment to patients.”