BioNtech aquires antibody assets from MabVax Therapeutics

Besides an undisclosed number of preclinical antibody candidates BioNTech has acquired MabVax Therapeutics’ Phase I candidate, MVT-5873, an antibody targeting CA19.9 (sialyl-Lewis), a glycoprotein frequently expressed at the surface of pancreatic cancer cells  and other GI cancers but not intact pancreatic tissue. It’s sugar domain is often shed from the antigen and thus is used in cancer diagnosis. MVT5873 plays a role in tumor adhesion and metastasis formation. The anti-CA19.9  antibody has been tested in 35 patients with initial positive interim data announced in February 2018.

The deal might complement different parts of BioNTech’s pipeline. Just in January, the cell & gene therapy and mRNA vaccine specialist acquired MAB Discovery’s operational antibody generation unit in order to generate mRNA-encoded antibodies. Administration of mRNA encoding an antibody using BioNTech’s RiboMABS^® platform enables in vivo-synthesis of the corresponding therapeutic antibody. MabVax Therapeutics is also developing a CAR-T cell therapy in discovery stage that targets CA19.9. Similar approaches might strenghten BioNTech’s activities in the CAR-T cell therapy field. 

“BioNTech’s vision is to identify and provide the best therapeutic options for each individual cancer patient. To make this possible, we are developing and integrating complementary technologies and drug modalities into our overall portfolio of treatment approaches,” said Prof. Dr. Ugur Sahin, CEO of BioNTech. “MabVax Therapeutics has developed an antibody with a novel mode of action in a disease indication that complements our pipeline expansion plans. This clinical-stage antibody together with the other pre-clinical assets that we have acquired from MabVax Therapeutics enhance our antibody portfolio, which also benefits from our ongoing collaboration with Genmab and the acquisition of MAB Discovery earlier this year.”

In conjunction with the agreement, BioNTech has purchased MabVax Therapeutics’ infrastructure and laboratory equipment with the intention of establishing a research facility in San Diego. The location is advantageous for BioNTech’s planned US-based clinical trials and will further support production of the company’s investigational treatments.

Financial terms were not disclosed. Interestingly, bankrupt MabVax Therapeutics Holdings "secured tentative approval for the $3.7 million sale of many of its remaining assets" to BioNtech three days before the deal was announced, reports www.360law.com.