Kite & Gadeta enter strategic collaboration for development of innovative cell therapies

Kite, a Gilead company, and Gadeta, privately-held company that focuses on the discovery and development of novel cancer immunotherapies, have entered into a strategic collaboration for the development of novel gamma delta T cell receptor (TCR) therapies in various cancers.

Under the terms of the agreement, Kite will provide research and development (R&D) funding for the collaboration and Gadeta will be eligible to receive future payments on achievement of certain regulatory milestones.

Additionally, Kite will make an upfront purchase of equity in Gadeta from its shareholders and may acquire additional equity in the company upon achievement of certain R&D milestones. Kite will have the exclusive option to acquire Gadeta.

“We continue to invest in research approaches that support the development of innovative cell therapies for people living with cancer,” said Dr Alessandro Riva, Gilead’s executive vice president, Oncology Therapeutics & head, Cell Therapy. “We are excited to work with Gadeta on its gamma delta TCR technology. This research collaboration adds an additional new platform to our current capabilities in research and cell manufacturing, and deepens our commitment to develop novel approaches to treat solid tumours.”

“Our mission is to develop novel gamma delta TCR cell therapies that have the potential to benefit patients with cancer,” added Shelley Margetson, Gadeta’s chief executive officer. “We are excited to gain the support of a leader in the cell therapy field, which has seen the potential of our platform and products to redefine cancer therapy.”

Gadeta has developed a proprietary technology to engineer alpha beta T cells with gamma delta TCRs, called TEGs, for the potential treatment of various haematological cancer and solid tumours. It is this platform that has the potential to combine the advantages of conventional T cells, which express alpha and beta TCR chains, with TCRs derived from gamma delta T cells — which recognise novel targets in cancer cells, according to preclinical models evaluating the lead TEG candidates.

As the gamma delta TCRs don’t require expression of cell surface proteins for target recognition and their ability to recognise novel targets under stress or metabolic conditions means that they offer an attractive approach to develop potentially effective cell therapies in solid tumours.