Galapagos and Adaptimmune sign clinical collaboration agreement with an option to exclusively license Adaptimmune's TCR T-cell therapy candidate, uza-cel, in head & neck cancer and potential future solid tumor indications

Core Insights - Adaptimmune and Galapagos have entered a clinical collaboration agreement to evaluate the safety and efficacy of uza-cel, a next-generation TCR T-cell therapy targeting MAGE-A4 in head & neck cancer [1][3] - Uza-cel has shown an overall response rate of 80% in a Phase 1 trial, with partial responses in four out of five patients [2][3] - Galapagos will utilize its decentralized manufacturing platform to produce uza-cel, which may enhance the efficacy and durability of the treatment [2][6] Financial Terms - Adaptimmune will receive an initial payment of $100 million, including $70 million upfront and $30 million for R&D funding [1][5] - Additional payments could reach up to $465 million in development and sales milestones, along with tiered royalties on net sales [1][5] - Galapagos has the option to exclusively license uza-cel for global development and commercialization, with a maximum option fee of $100 million [1][4] Manufacturing and Development - Galapagos' decentralized manufacturing platform allows for a median vein-to-vein time of seven days, facilitating rapid access to treatment for patients [2][6] - Adaptimmune will manage the clinical proof-of-concept trial and supply the vector for manufacturing, while Galapagos will deliver the fresh product [3][4] Strategic Vision - The partnership aligns with Galapagos' strategic vision to advance novel cell therapies and expand its oncology portfolio [3] - Adaptimmune aims to leverage the collaboration to enhance the effectiveness of its TCR T-cell therapy for patients with late-stage cancers [3][4]