Biotechnology firm Poseida Therapeutics has signed a worldwide licence agreement with Janssen Biotech to use Centyrin technology to develop chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapies.

Under the deal, Poseida will research, develop, manufacture and commercialise licenced products using Janssen Centyrin technology.

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Centyrins are a class of Janssen proprietary alternative scaffold molecules, which can be engineered to bind to target proteins with an interface of similar size to those used by antibodies.

"The Centyrin technology can be used to develop binding molecules to numerous cancer antigens and paves the way towards cutting-edge CAR-based immuno-oncology therapeutics."

Poseida Therapeutics CEO Eric Ostertag said: "This licence agreement further strengthens our existing synergistic drug development collaboration and grants Poseida access to a powerful Janssen platform.

"The Centyrin technology can be used to develop binding molecules to numerous cancer antigens and paves the way towards cutting-edge CAR-based immuno-oncology therapeutics, which may eventually treat many different cancers that currently have unsatisfactory treatment options."

As part of the agreement, Poseida receives the rights to screen the Centyrin library to identify and develop Centyrin molecules against new cancer antigens that the firm identifies or licences, including solid tumour antigens.

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Poseida has licenced the technology to develop pharmaceutical products containing or comprised of autologous T-cells or any NK- or NK-like cells expressing a Centyrin molecule or Centyrin Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) molecule.

The licence allows Poseida to use Centyrin molecules against three existing targets, including one that the firm is developing in house as part of an autologous CAR-T therapy to treat multiple myeloma.

Janssen will receive an undisclosed upfront fee from Poseida, in addition to the potential development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments.

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