AstraZeneca bets cautiously on oncolytic virus discovery program, outlining $13M deal with Transgene
Mounting a preliminary effort to catch up with other pharma giants in the oncolytic virus space, AstraZeneca has found a partner in France’s Transgene.
In the deal, the biotech — which is already allied with Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer/Merck KGaA on combination programs with its in-house therapeutic vaccines — will come up with five new armed oncolytic vaccinia virus candidates. AstraZeneca is starting small with $10 million upfront and just $3 million in preclinical success milestones, but promises an undisclosed license fee for each clinical candidate they ultimately decide to co-develop.
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