Grid Therapeutics Signs Exclusive Agreement to Develop a Novel Immuno-Oncology Antibody

Grid Therapeutics announced the execution of an exclusive license agreement with Duke University to develop the first human derived antibody as a targeted immunotherapy for cancer. Under the agreement, Grid has acquired the exclusive rights to all intellectual property, including relevant patents, related to Complement Factor H (CFH) antibodies as a cancer therapy, and diagnostics around CFH. Grid is based on the innovative science developed by Edward F. Patz, Jr., MD and his team at Duke University. Grid is currently developing its lead candidate for the treatment of solid tumors, and plans to begin clinical trials in cancer patients in early 2019.

Grid’s CFH asset is based upon an innovative platform that first identified tumor specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies from patients with early stage cancer who do not develop metastasis. A unique strategy was used to determine the sequence of its lead IgG3 antibody directly from single B cells isolated from cancer patients with the CFH antibody. The antibody not only directly kills tumor cells, without detrimental effects on normal tissues, but also modulates the adaptive immune response to attack tumor cells anywhere in the body.

"We are pleased to sign this exclusive license agreement with Duke to advance this truly innovative science into clinical trials and begin evaluating the therapeutic treatment options for multiple forms of cancer," said Dr. Paolo Paoletti, a Grid Board member and CEO of GammaDelta Therapeutics. "This agreement allows Grid to rapidly develop a new generation of cancer immunotherapies based on a human derived antibody that inhibits CFH, a protein that serves to protect cancer cells." As part of the license agreement, Duke University has become a shareholder in Grid.