Blood products and vaccines developer CSL has granted United States firm Janssen Biotech a licence to develop and commercialise CSL’s treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
Under the deal, CSL will receive a licence fee, milestone payments and royalties on sales.
CSL will complete an early (Phase 1) clinical trial of the treatment, a monoclonal antibody therapy known as CSL362, on AML patients in Australia and the US, and Jannsen will be responsible for all further development and commercialisation of the treatment.
“CSL362 is at a very exciting stage of development and required a partner with a proven capability in oncology and autoimmunity to maximise its potential,” CSL’s chief scientific officer,” Dr Andrew Cuthbertson, said on Thursday.
AML is an aggressive form of cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow, and has poor survival rates.
Patients can be treated with chemotherapy, but there is a high likelihood of relapse and consequent death.
CSL362 is unique in that it is designed to recruit cells from a patient’s immune system to help keep the leukaemia in remission.
CSL said laboratory studies showed that CSL362 targets AML cells and recruits and activates killer cells from the body’s immune system to attack the cancer cells.
It is hoped that these “natural killer” cells will eliminate AML cells, preventing relapse of the disease.
Shares in CSL were 10 cents lower at $68.22 at 1027 AEDT.
