Starpharma, an Australian biotechnology company, has announced the signing of a collaboration and license agreement with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, to develop potential cancer therapies that leverage Starpharma’s proprietary DEP® drug delivery technology.
Starpharma will receive an upfront payment of $5.5 million (~AUD $8.3 million), and is eligible for development, commercial, and net sales milestones of up to $564 million (~AUD $855 million). In addition to this amount, Starpharma is eligible for tiered royalties on global net sales of products resulting from the collaboration.
The company will employ its proprietary DEP® platform technology to develop dendrimer-drug conjugates that incorporate Genentech medicines for certain oncology targets. Starpharma has granted Genentech an exclusive worldwide license under Starpharma’s IP to develop and commercialise products resulting from the collaboration, which could include multiple products for each target.
Starpharma’s DEP® platform technology offers significant benefits in drug development, including improved solubility, increased efficacy, pharmacokinetic control, and improved toxicity profiles. These advantages can be applied to a wide range of drug classes, such as small molecules, peptides, and proteins, as well as to the development of chemotherapeutics, radiotheranostics, and antibody-drug conjugates. These benefits provide companies with opportunities to enhance product attributes by differentiating their portfolios and unlocking additional treatment indications.
Cheryl Maley, Starpharma Chief Executive Officer, commented, “A key strategic priority for Starpharma is to build new, high-impact partnerships that unlock the full potential of our DEP® platform. By actively pursuing licensing opportunities and collaborating with leading organisations, we aim to expand market reach and enable our partners to deliver significantly improved therapies to patients worldwide.”
