Oxford Biomedica signs deal with Beam Therapeutics

Gene and cell therapy company Oxford Biomedica has signed a new development, manufacture and license agreement with Beam Therapeutics, it announced on Monday, which it described as a Massachusetts-based biotechnology company developing precision genetic medicines through the use of base editing.

The FTSE 250 company said the agreement granted Beam a non-exclusive license to Oxford Biomedica's ‘LentiVector’ platform, for its application in “next-generation” CAR-T programmes in oncology, and put in place a three-year cinical supply agreement.

Under the terms of the deal, Oxford Biomedica would receive an undisclosed upfront payment, as well as payments related to development and manufacturing of lentiviral vectors for use in clinical trials, and certain development and regulatory milestones for products sold by Beam that use the LentiVector platform, and an undisclosed royalty on the net sales of products sold by Beam that utilise the LentiVector platform.

Oxford Biomedica said it was currently working on one pre-clinical programme with Beam, with the agreement allowing for the parties to initiate additional projects in the future.

“Beam Therapeutics is one of the leading next-generation CAR-T developers who deploy a wide range of innovative technologies to bring innovative CAR-T products into development,” said chief executive officer John Dawson.

“We are proud to be working with a leader in the field of gene editing technologies, including base editing, and this provides us another valuable opportunity for our LentiVector platform to support innovative product development of CAR-T products.

“This is our third announced partnership with leaders in the CAR-T field, building on our longstanding partnership with Novartis and our more recently announced partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb earlier this year. We look forward to supporting the next generation CAR-T programmes at Beam.”

At 0825 BST, shares in Oxford Biomedica were up 0.61% at 822p.