New cancer therapies from Takeda, Noile-Immune Biotech

Takeda has announced a new cancer drug research collaboration with the Japanese biotechnology company Noile-Immune Biotech.The alliance aims to develop next-generation chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapies, based on research from Professor Koji Tamada at Yamaguchi University, to which Noile-Immune has an exclusive licence.CAR-T therapies produce cytokines, chemokines and other molecules that can influence or alter tumour microenvironments to enhance the effect of the therapy. The companies intend to use this technology to treat a broad range of cancers.
In addition to providing resources required for implementation of the alliance, Takeda will make a technology access payment to Noile-Immune Biotech, as well as an equity investment.

Takeda will receive an exclusive option to obtain licensing rights for the development and commercialisation of Noile-Immune's pipeline and products resulting from this partnership.

Chris Arendt, head of the oncology drug discovery unit for Takeda, said: "This collaboration is another example of our commitment to invest in highly innovative technologies and to work with top external scientific and clinical teams as we seek to deliver therapies that address the needs of patients with cancer."