Japan-based Astellas Pharma has entered an exclusive research and development collaboration agreement with Potenza Therapeutics to develop a portfolio of immune-oncology therapeutics.

Under the deal, the firms will advance a portfolio that includes programmes with novel mechanisms of action targeting immune checkpoint pathways, co-stimulatory signals and regulatory T cells.

The deal will also provide an option for Astellas to acquire Potenza on pre-determined terms at the end of the collaboration period.

Potenza Therapeutics co-founder and CEO Dr Daniel Hicklin said: "We are at the beginning of a new era in cancer therapy. First generation immuno-oncology therapeutics have demonstrated meaningful clinical benefit to patients with certain cancers.

"We are at the beginning of a new era in cancer therapy."

"The new targets and pathways that Potenza is working on offer promise for continued expansion of immunotherapy treatment options."

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Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but will include an equity investment, option fee, research funding, and potential future acquisition and milestone payments.

Astellas Pharma senior vice-president and chief strategy officer Dr Kenji Yasukawa said: "Despite the recent clinical success of checkpoint-blocking monoclonal antibodies targeting PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4, there still remains significant unmet medical need in non-responder patients and unresponsive tumour types."

Image: Astellas Pharma’s Miyukigaoka Research Centre. Photo: courtesy of Miyuki Meinaka.