Elpiscience Biopharma and Astellas Pharma Forge Groundbreaking Partnership to Develop Cancer Immunotherapy

Elpiscience Biopharma and Astellas Pharma have entered into a research collaboration and licensing contract for two novel bispecific macrophage engagers. 

Bispecific macrophage engagers are therapeutic molecules designed to simultaneously bind to cancer cells and macrophages, stimulating the immune system to target and eliminate cancer cells. 

Upon Astellas opting to proceed, the firm will acquire exclusive rights from Elpiscience to conduct additional studies, manufacture, and marketing activities for each program. 

Following the exercise of the option by Astellas, Elpiscience is set to obtain performance-based payments exceeding $1.7 billion upon achieving research, regulation, and sales targets.  

Darren Ji, the president and chief executive officer of Elpiscience, stated, “We are pleased to collaborate with Astellas, a world leader of innovative medicines, on developing game-changing therapies for cancer.” 

Ji went on to add, “The therapeutic molecules generated from the BiME platform have the potential of changing the clinical practice for tumours where tumour-associated macrophages are highly abundant, and no effective therapies are available.”