OREANDA-NEWS. Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) and Molecular Templates, Inc. today announced a collaboration agreement for oncology drug discovery programs. The collaboration will apply Molecular Templates’ engineered toxin bodies (ETB) technology platform to potential therapeutic targets provided by Takeda through a joint scientific committee of both companies.

“Over the past year, Takeda has expanded its collaborations in the Oncology space with the aim of accessing highly-innovative platforms to target specific tumor antigens using novel payloads and modality approaches,” said Christopher Arendt, Ph.D., Head, Oncology DDU & Immunology Unit, Takeda. “In fact, we had already been working with the Molecular Templates team on a program that we have the option to in-license. The announcement of today’s collaboration with Molecular Templates allows us to extend this partnership and leverage their potentially groundbreaking approach to address additional tumors types, including solid tumors. The Molecular Templates team is outstanding, and we look forward to expanding our partnership.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Takeda will make an equity investment and Molecular Templates is eligible to receive upfront payments, development and commercial milestone payments, Takeda has agreed to royalties on the sales of commercial products developed through the collaboration. Under the agreement, Takeda will also appoint a Director to Molecular Templates’ board of directors.

“This collaboration is an exciting opportunity to develop a new class of oncology therapeutics by applying our modified Shiga-like toxin fusion proteins to Takeda’s world-class oncology target portfolio,” said Eric Poma, Ph.D., Molecular Templates’ Chief Executive and Scientific Officer. “Takeda’s oncology expertise and drug development capabilities represent unique assets for combination with our approach to targeting and destroying cancer cells, and we look forward to developing products via this new avenue of oncology research.”

Takeda will have the right to exercise exclusive options to obtain license rights to products resulting from the collaboration. Molecular Templates would be responsible for manufacturing and supply of products licensed for development by Takeda through Phase I clinical development. Additional terms of the agreement are not being disclosed.

Takeda signed this agreement through its wholly owned subsidiary, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

About Molecular Templates 
Molecular Templates is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of next-generation immunotoxins called Engineered Toxin Bodies (ETBs) for the treatment of cancers and other serious diseases.

About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited is a global, research and development-driven pharmaceutical company committed to bringing better health and a brighter future to patients by translating science into life-changing medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on oncology, gastroenterology and central nervous system therapeutic areas plus vaccines. Takeda conducts R?D both internally and with partners to stay at the leading edge of innovation. New innovative products, especially in oncology and gastroenterology, as well as Takeda’s presence in Emerging Markets, are currently fueling the growth of Takeda. Around 30,000 Takeda employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients, working with Takeda’s partners in health care in more than 70 countries.