Heidelberg Pharma inks US$334m R&D contract with Magenta Therapeutics

Conditioning treatment is used to eliminate the underlying disease, create space for the new marrow and prevent rejection of the new bone marrow. The collaboration aims at extending the availibility of bone marrow transplants to patients with blood cancers, genetic diseases and severe refractory autoimmune diseases. It will combine Magenta’s stem cell platform with proprietary antibodies across up to four exclusive targets with Heidelberg Pharma’s proprietary ATAC (Antibody Targeted Amanitin Conjugates) technology. ATACs carry the transcription blocker Amanitin as a toxic payload linked to a targeting antibody.

The companies did not publish details on the amount of the upfront payment to Heidelberg Pharma or the amount of research support payments. However, they said that under the license agreement, Heidelberg Pharma will be eligible to receive option fees, clinical development, regulatory and sales-related milestone payments up to US$334m, if Magenta exercises all target options and all milestones are met. Magenta has secured the option for an exclusive target-specific license for global development and commercialisation rights to each of the product candidates resulting from the research collaboration. 

As the high risks, toxic side effects and complexity of bone marrow transplants currently prevent many patients from being able to benefit, “there is a significant need for targeted conditioning regimens, and this is a key area of focus for Magenta,“ said Michael Cooke, CEO of Magenta Therapeutics. „Our partnership with Heidelberg Pharma is an important step in our development of proprietary targeted antibody drug conjugates for conditioning.”