Moderna lands option on Autolus binders to fuel oncology plans

 Moderna has secured an option to license binders for up to four immuno-oncology targets from Autolus Therapeutics. The deal positions Moderna to use Autolus’ technology in its mRNA therapies. 

Autolus is one of the sea of biotechs seeking to improve on first-generation T-cell therapies, in its case by using programming technologies to create more controllable, targeted treatments. In recent years, Autolus has hit bumps in the road, leading it to ax 20% of its staff and seek a partner for one of its candidates earlier this year, but it now has the validation of a deal with a high-profile partner.

Moderna is set to pay an upfront fee of undisclosed size for each target it licenses. Autolus is also in line to pocket milestones, for both development and commercial events, and royalties on net sales, again of undisclosed size. 

The deal follows years of work by Autolus to differentiate its T-cell therapies through their binders. Recognizing that the binders that enable selective targeting of cancer cells are critical to the success of T-cell therapies, Autolus has worked to optimize its binders or otherwise set them apart from the immuno-oncology pack.

In the case of lead candidate AUTO1, Autolus’ work has resulted in a CD19 binder that has a fast off-rate, the term used to describe how quickly a drug leaves a binding site. Autolus has early clinical evidence that the fast off-rate results in reduced cytokine release syndrome.

Moderna has identified Autolus’ binder capabilities as a good fit for its cancer ambitions. The mRNA specialist is already working on a clutch of cancer vaccines and intratumoral immuno-oncology drugs, including an OX40L prospect and a Merck-partnered personalized vaccine that are in phase 2.

Adding targeting entities to the surface of lipid nanoparticles could enable the targeting of mRNA to specific cells, thereby improving the risk-benefit profile of the therapeutic. Moderna currently uses intratumoral delivery to get its OX40L prospect and two phase 1 candidates to target cells. 

https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/moderna-lands-option-autolus-binders-to-fuel-oncology-plans