US-based startup KSQ Therapeutics has expanded its strategic collaboration with Japanese pharmaceutical firm Takeda to research and validate novel tumour-intrinsic targets.

Under the terms of the agreement, Takeda will provide KSQ with an upfront payment and an investment in the double-digit millions of dollars. KSQ is also eligible to receive up to $510 million in future payments if all milestones are achieved during the term of the agreement, plus royalties on potential net sales of any commercial product resulting from the collaboration.

Expanding the successful partnership with Takeda further validates the effectiveness of the CRISPRomics platform in discovering exciting, novel targets in various cell types across modalities. It also demonstrates KSQ’s ability to deliver results –original collaboration, initiated in 2021 and focus on the discovery of novel NK cell and T cell-based targets, has already achieved several research milestones.

This expanded ongoing collaboration will identify novel targets that affect the sensitivity of tumours to immune cell-mediated death in the tumour microenvironment.