GlaxoSmithKline and Adaptimmune expand immunotherapy research alliance

GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to broaden the scope of its immuno-oncology research alliance with Adaptimmune Therapeutics.

The new agreement will see the companies working together to accelerate Adaptimmune's lead clinical cancer programme, an affinity enhanced T-cell immunotherapy targeting NY-ESO-1, toward pivotal trials in synovial sarcoma.

They will also explore developments in myxoid round cell liposarcoma, with the companies to initiate up to eight proof-of-principle studies exploring combinations with other therapies, including checkpoint inhibitors.

Adaptimmune will take the lead in organising the studies, with GlaxoSmithKline funding the pivotal trials and sharing the costs of the combination studies via a success-based milestone structure.

Dr Axel Hoos, senior vice-president of oncology research and development at GlaxoSmithKline, said: "As we highlighted to investors at our research and development event last year, this Adaptimmune collaboration is a key element of that pipeline and is part of a comprehensive programme for cell and gene therapy."

Adaptimmune and GlaxoSmithKline first agreed their strategic collaboration and licensing agreement in June 2014, initially covering up to five programmes.