Amgen, Xencor Partner to Develop Cancer Immunotherapy Treatments

California-based biopharmaceutical companies Amgen and Xencor entered into a research and license agreement that could be worth as much as $1.7 billion to develop and commercialize therapeutics focused on cancer immunotherapy and inflammation.

Under the partnership, Amgen will be in charge of preclinical and clinical development and commercialization, drawing on its background in protein therapeutics, while Xencor will contribute molecular engineering and bispecific molecules through its trademarked XmAb technology platform. The drug discovery will center on five Amgen-suggested antibody programs, and one specifically dedicated to multiple myeloma.

Financially, Amgen will pay Xencor $45 million upfront and up to $1.7 billion for potential clinical, regulatory and sales milestones for six oncology programs, the companies said. Xencor could also receive royalties for developed medications and use of its CD38 bispecific T cell engager.

The companies said their engineering approach targets tumors more directly because XmAbs contain a tumor antigen binding domain and a cytotoxic T-cell binding domain, rather than a single antigen like most mAbs. — Victoria Pelham