AbbVie and Turnstone Biologics announce new cancer collaboration

AbbVie has announced a new collaboration with Turnstone Biologics that will aim to develop new immunotherapies for cancer.

The research, option and license agreement will see AbbVie obtain an exclusive option to license up to three of Turnstone's next-generation oncolytic viral immunotherapies, including Ad-MG1-MAGEA3, a compound that is already being assessed in phase I/II trials.

Oncolytic viruses take advantage of defective pathways in tumours to selectively replicate and destroy cancer cells, while cancer vaccines create T-cell immune responses against tumour antigens. Turnstone Biologics Maraba therapy approach combines both of these effects.

The collaboration will focus on Ad-MG1-MAGEA3 and up to two other research-stage candidates to be developed by Turnstone, all based on engineered Maraba viruses. If AbbVie exercises one or more of its options, it expects to explore the efficacy of the immunotherapeutic technology across several types of solid tumour.

Dr Tom Hudson, vice-president for oncology discovery and early development at AbbVie, said: "The combination of our world-class expertise in oncology drug development, partnered with Turnstone's innovative therapeutic platform, has the potential to generate first-in-class immunotherapies that can attack tumours directly and improve patients' response to treatment."

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