AbbVie and Turnstone Biologics announce global collaboration on viral immunotherapies in oncology

AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, and Turnstone Biologics, a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company, have announced a research, option and license agreement whereby AbbVie obtained an exclusive option to license up to three of Turnstone's next-generation oncolytic viral immunotherapies.

Oncolytic viruses take advantage of defective pathways in tumors to selectively replicate in and destroy cancer cells, while cancer vaccines create killer (CD8+) T cell immune responses against tumor antigens. Taking an innovative approach, Turnstone Biologics engineered its Maraba oncolytic viral immunotherapy to function as both a selective tumor-destroying oncolytic virus and an immune-stimulating T cell vaccine. Leaving healthy cells unaffected, the Maraba platform directly attacks cancer cells and changes the tumor microenvironment to make the cancer susceptible to the targeted vaccine-induced immune response. The result is a powerful therapy that harnesses the individual's own immune system to attack and kill tumors locally and at metastatic sites throughout the body, generating durable memory and preventing recurrence.

"Turnstone Biologics is the first company to clinically develop a combined oncolytic virus and cancer vaccine, and we are very impressed by their work to-date. This unique approach to cancer treatment complements our expanding portfolio of novel therapies in development," said Tom Hudson, M.D., vice president, oncology discovery and early development, AbbVie. "The combination of our world-class expertise in oncology drug development partnered with Turnstone's innovative therapeutic platform has the potential to generate first-in-class immunotherapies that can attack tumors directly and improve patients' response to treatment."

Under the terms of the agreement, AbbVie has an option to obtain all global development and commercialization rights to Turnstone Biologics' Ad-MG1-MAGEA3 therapy, which is in two Phase 1/2 clinical trials for multiple solid tumor indications both alone and in combination with an approved anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, as well as up to two research-stage candidates to be developed by Turnstone as part of the collaboration. Each of the three therapies leverages Turnstone's first-in-class platform based on an engineered Maraba virus. In the event AbbVie exercises one or more of its options, AbbVie expects to pursue this immunotherapeutic technology across several types of solid tumors.

"Since our initial round of financing less than two years ago, we have experienced significant growth, progressing from a single early-stage immunotherapy program to a promising clinical-stage pipeline of multiple therapeutic candidates across several cancer indications," said Sammy Farah, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Turnstone. "AbbVie's global reach and deep experience in bringing to market medicines that deliver transformational improvements to patients will accelerate the development of Maraba-based therapies for solid tumors. We are committed to delivering on the promise of our technology, and will rapidly advance the AbbVie-optioned therapies as well as our own pipeline of medicines."

Financial terms were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.