BioNTech and Autolus Announce Strategic Alliance to Bolster CAR-T Cell Pipeline

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BioNTech and Autolus are teaming up to advance both of their CAR-T programs.¹ The strategic alliance will include a $200 million investment from BioNTech to Autolus, and will also grant BioNTech access to Autolus’ manufacturing capabilities. The two companies will also have co-commercialization options and opportunities to support product launches.

The agreement still requires market authorization.

BioNTech is an immunotherapy company developing novel therapies for cancer and other diseases. Autolus Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing programmed T-cell therapies.

In a press release, BioNTech CEO and co-founder Prof. Ugur Sahin, M.D., said, “The collaboration with Autolus enables us to expand our BNT211 program into trials for multiple cancer indications in a cost-efficient way. Autolus' state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities’ set-up for clinical and commercial supply will enhance our own capacities in addition to our existing U.S. supply network and the ongoing expansion of our site in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Furthermore, this collaboration grants us access to Autolus' precise cell targeting tools to further support BioNTech’s development of in vivo cell therapy and antibody-drug conjugate candidates."

According to the press release, BioNTech plans on having 10 or more ongoing clinical trials by the end of the year. In order to achieve this, it plans on utilizing Autolus’ network of commercial and clinical sites, along with its manufacturing sites in the United Kingdom.

“We see a remarkable opportunity to leverage our core capabilities, accelerate pipeline programs, realize cost-efficiencies and expand opportunities beyond autologous cell therapies,” said Dr. Christian Itin, CEO of Autolus. “We look forward to investing a portion of the capital raised on delivering on obe-cel’s path in adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, potentially offering another treatment option for patients where there is still an unmet medical need. This collaboration creates a path for accelerating our respective oncology pipeline programs and broadening the use of Autolus’ technology outside of autologous cell therapy applications.”

As part of the agreement, BioNTech will receive an exclusive license from Autolus to develop and commercialize therapeutics incorporating elements of Autolus’ proprietary material. The two companies will also have the option to provide support to each other in the development of various cancer treatments.

BioNTech will also support the launch and development of obe-cell, Autolus’ lead cell therapy candidate. In exchange, BioNTech will receive royalty payments based off of the therapies net sales.

Source

BioNTech and Autolus Announce Strategic CAR-T Cell Therapy Collaboration to Advance Pipeline and Expand Late-Stage Programs. BioNTech. February 8, 2024. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://investors.biontech.de/news-releases/news-release-details/biontech-and-autolus-announce-strategic-car-t-cell-therapy