Scottish firm TC BioPharm has inked a strategic collaboration with the Japan’s NIPRO Corporation to co-develop a novel immunotherapy product using TCB’s safe CAR-T platform. TCB intends to use this platform to treat a broad range of cancers and major viral disease.

TCB and NIPRO will co-develop an autologous gamma-delta CAR-T therapy directed against CD19, which is expressed in several blood cancers such as multiple myeloma and lymphoma. TC BioPharm says the immunotherapy treatment will target cases of multiple myeloma and certain lymphomas. The drug candidate will be developed using TCB's unique CAR-T platform which leaves healthy cells untouched.

 As per the terms, NIPRO will provide funds in the form of up-front fees, milestone payments and research support to progress clinical studies and receive exclusive right to sell and distribute CAR-T products worldwide.

TCB’s chief operating officer, Angela Scott, said:  “TCB’s world-class GMP-compliant manufacturing facility and experienced in-house clinical team will allow us to leverage patient treatment at established cancer therapy centers throughout Europe.  Since commencing operations in 2014, we have treated numerous cancer patients successfully with unmodified gamma-delta T cells and built sufficient infrastructure to progress our innovative proprietary next-generation CAR-T towards phase I studies during 2018.”

 Commenting on both the grant and collaboration, Jim Watson, director of Innovation & Enterprise Services at Scottish Enterprise, said: “This particular grant is designed to encourage investment in R&D and inspire Scottish companies to partner with international players to expand market reach.”

NIPRO’s managing director, Toshiaki Masuda, said:  “The collaboration with TC Biopharm, which has stand-alone technology in developing CAR-T products, and NIPRO, an experienced company in manufacturing cell culture products, will establish the safe and innovative cancer therapeutics for practical use in the global market.”

 “The collaboration with NIPRO is TCB’s first major pharma deal centred in Asia, and represents a strong endorsement of the therapeutic approach. Remarking on this significant milestone for the company, TCB’s chief executive Dr Michael Leek added:  “This commercial collaboration represents the cutting-edge of cell-based immunotherapy, providing clinicians and cancer patients access to next-generation, safe, innovative oncology products.  We are privileged to be working alongside the NIPRO Corporation as it continues to build a formidable presence in the regenerative medicine sector.”