Takeda to Purchase Maverick for $525 Million to Boost T-Cell Therapy Pipeline

Takeda Pharmaceutical is expanding its immune-oncology portfolio by acquiring Brisbane, Calif.-based Maverick Therapeutics for $525 million.

The Japanese drugmaker will gain access to Maverick’s COBRA T-cell engaging platform and development pipeline. T‐cell engager technology is designed to treat cancers by connecting patients’ T-cells to cancer cells.

The purchase follows a multiyear partnership Takeda and Maverick forged in 2017 to develop new T-cell engager therapies. Under the terms of the acquisition, Maverick will receive an undisclosed upfront payment and potential milestone-based payments totaling $525 million.