MorphoSys has partnered with Immatics Biotechnologies to develop novel antibody-based therapeutics against multiple proprietary cancer antigens differentiated by T cells.
Under the deal, MorphoSys will be provided access to several proprietary tumour-associated peptides (TUMAPs) discovered using Immatics' Xpresident platform to develop novel antibody-based therapeutics against these targets in multiple solid and haematological cancers.
Xpresident provides access to novel antibody targets associated with proteins, which are present inside cancer cells.
Immatics will also receive MorphoSys' Ylanthia antibodies against a number of its TUMAPs, with proprietary development rights.
MorphoSys chief scientific officer Dr Marlies Sproll said: "We are delighted to join forces with Immatics, a world leader in discovering truly novel cancer targets that would be otherwise inaccessible for antibody-based therapies."
Both firms will pay each other milestones based on their respective development progress, in addition to royalties on marketed products.
Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
Immatics Biotechnologies chief scientific officer Dr Harpreet Singh said: "The combination of MorphoSys' outstanding capabilities to create antibodies and the unique access to intracellular targets through our Xpresident discovery engine provides both partners the opportunity to jointly deliver the next generation of transforming antibody drugs for cancer patients with high unmet medical need."
The therapeutic programmes currently being pursued by both firms aim to discover Ylanthia antibodies against the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) bound peptide targets to kill the tumour cells, according to Immatics.
