Takeda's foray into the realm of stem cell technology holds great promise for improving treatment options in both solid tumours and blood cancers. Through partnerships and innovative research, Takeda is at the forefront of developing advanced cancer therapies.
Unlock the Potential of Takeda's Stem Cell Platforms for Cancer Treatment
Takeda and Alloy Therapeutics: A Partnership for Progress
Takeda and Alloy Therapeutics have come together to accelerate the development of cancer therapies. Their focus is on Takeda's proprietary iPSC-derived CAR-T and CAR-NK platforms, namely iCAR-T and iCAR-NK. These platforms utilize iPSCs to create immune cells that can target and destroy cancer. Unlike traditional CAR-T therapies, iCAR-T and iCAR-NK therapies are "off-the-shelf," meaning they can be produced in advance and used for multiple patients. This offers the potential for faster treatment, increased accessibility, and lower manufacturing costs. Alloy gains co-exclusive rights to develop and commercialize these therapies, while also sharing the technology with its partners to expand its use in various types of cancer.Alloy is establishing a Japanese subsidiary to focus on cell therapy development, further strengthening their efforts in this area. This partnership is not the first for Alloy with big pharma. In May 2024, they licensed their ATX-Gx and ATX-CLC murine platforms to Eli Lilly, providing tools for antibody discovery and integrating their technology with Lilly's Catalyze360 programme.The iCAR-T Platform: A Collaborative Endeavor
The iCAR-T platform was developed through a collaboration between Takeda and Kyoto University's Center for iPS Research and Application (CiRA). In 2018, the first CAR-T cell therapy created through this collaboration entered process development towards clinical testing. Despite challenges along the way, Takeda remains committed to oncology. In February 2024, their R&D president Andrew Plump stated that the company will continue to develop therapies across haematologic and solid tumours. This commitment was demonstrated by signing a deal with Kumquat Biosciences in April 2024 to develop an immuno-oncology small molecule inhibitor.Other Biotechs in the iPSC Space
Several biotechs have also shown interest in the iPSC space. In September 2024, GC Therapeutics (GCTx) raised a $65m Series A funding round to deliver its off-the-shelf iPSC-based medicines. In August 2023, BlueRock Therapeutics signed a collaboration and option agreement with bit.bio to discover and manufacture iPSC-derived regulatory T cell-based therapies. bit.bio's opti-ox precision cell programming technology is used for controlling the expression of transcription factor combinations within cell therapies.Takeda's stem cell platforms offer a unique approach to cancer treatment, with the potential to transform the landscape of oncology. Through these partnerships and ongoing research, the future of cancer therapy looks promising.