Celgene Acquires Biotech Startup EngMab

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17.10.2016

EngMab, a Schwyz based startup developing T-cell bispecific antibodies for oncology treatments, was acquired by the multinational company Celgene for $600 Million. The acquisition will help Celgene pursue tumour necrosis as a target to treat multiple myeloma.

Last month, Endpoints reported that Celgene – a multinational biopharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery, development, and commercialization of products for the treatment of cancer and other severe, immune, inflammatory conditions – completed a deal to acquire the Swiss biotech startup EngMab for $600 million, adding a new B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) - targeting multiple myeloma program to the pipeline.

EngMab has been labouring on T-cell bispecific antibodies, which are designed to bring immune cells into contact with a target on cancer cells. EngMab's investigators showed up at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) late last year to present their work on multiple myeloma. Celgene will therefore use this technology to work with its ongoing efforts on CAR-T and CD-3 antibodies with focus on finding a cure for both myeloma and lymphoma.

“BCMA is highly and selectively expressed on the surface of malignant plasma cells in MM and target of high value for immune based therapies such as re-engineered autologous T-CAR-T and the re-direction of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes via anti-CD3 bi-specific antibodies,” said a spokesman from Celgene to Endpoints.

Through this acquisition, Celgene is now uniquely positioned to pursue BCMA development opportunities using both CAR-T and CD-3- redirected killing platforms. Both approaches and assets provide the opportunity for best in class assets. We see both this and the Bluebird BCMA platform as highly complementary with the potential to be curative.  In addition to mono-therapy in Myeloma patients, both platforms provide the opportunity for rational combination therapies with CELMods and Checkpoint inhibitors in order to further improve treatment efficacy, as well as clinical development in other BCMA expressing B-cell malignancies such as lymphoma.”

About EngMab
EngMab was established in 2013 in the Canton of Schwyz. The startup develops T cell bispecific antibodies that bind simultaneously to a tumour antigen and the T cell receptor (TCR) complex to destroy malignant cells. Last year, it presented data showing that EM801, a T cell bispecific antibody targeting BCMA, induced death of malignant cells in vitro and in a mouse xenograft model.

(RAN)

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