Kusatsu/Shiga Japan – January 16, 2020 – Takara Bio Inc. (Takara Bio), announced today that it has granted Tmunity Therapeutics, Inc., (Tmunity) a non-exclusive license to use Takara Bio’s siTCR technology stipulated.
Takara Bio’s proprietary patented technology to siTCR has the advantage to minimize the expression of endogenous T Cell Receptors (TCRs) on the surface of T cells by siRNA. This leads to improved T cell expression of transduced therapeutic TCRs and better production of engineered T cells that have the potential to reduce the risk of side effects and improve efficacy of T cell therapies.
Takara Bio engages in the clinical development of siTCR gene therapy in Japan and overseas. Domestically, the company has a clinical collaboration with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd for NY-ESO-1・siTCR™ gene therapy products (TBI1301 and 1301A). Takara Bio is also promoting out-licensing of siTCR technology to companies and entities developing engineered T cell therapies.
The impact of executing this agreement is immaterial to the current fiscal year's financial forecast.
About Takara Bio
Takara Bio Inc. is an innovative biotechnology company based in Shiga, Japan. As a world leader in biotechnology research and development, Takara Bio was the first company to market PCR technology in Japan and is also the developer of the RetroNectin reagent, which is used as a world standard in gene therapy protocols. In addition to providing research reagents and equipment to the life science research market, Takara Bio has active research and product development activities in the fields of gene and cell-based therapy and agricultural biotechnology; and is committed to preventing disease and improving the quality of life for all people through the use of biotechnology. Through strategic alliances with other industry leaders, Takara Bio aims to extend its reach around the world. More information is available at https://www.takara-bio.com/index.html
About Tmunity Therapeutics
Tmunity is a private clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on saving and improving lives by delivering the full potential of next-generation T-cell immunotherapy to patients with devastating diseases. Integrating a foundational collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) with the groundbreaking scientific, clinical, and manufacturing expertise, and the demonstrated track record of its founders (Carl June, MD; Bruce Blazar, MD; Bruce Levine, PhD; Yangbing Zhao, MD, PhD; Jim Riley, PhD; and Anne Chew, PhD), Tmunity represents a new center of gravity in translational T-cell medicine. Through the University of Pennsylvania, the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and other collaborations, the company is developing a diversified portfolio of novel treatments that exhibit best-in-class control over T-cell activation and direction in the body, with a focus in cancer and three programs currently in clinical development. With headquarters in Philadelphia, Tmunity utilizes laboratories and production facilities at Penn and its own dedicated cGMP manufacturing facility in East Norriton, PA, to pursue process improvement and production scale-up in support of clinical development of its T-cell therapies. For more information, visit http://www.tmunity.com and connect with us on social media at @TmunityTx and LinkedIn.
