Celldex Therapeutics and LICR Sign Cancer Antigen License and Research Agreement

Celldex Therapeutics and the International Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR) will focus on a series of tumor- associated antigens (TAAs) for use in Celldex' Antigen Presenting Cell (APC) Targeting Technology™, according to a multiyear clinical research collaboration.

These antigens, previously identified and characterized immunologically by LICR, will add to new Celldex development programs for a range of cancer types. NY-ESO-1, MAGE3, and MelanA, in particular, are being studied in non-small-cell-lung, ovarian, and bladder cancers, as well as melanoma in an extended series of Phase I/II programs conducted by the LICR and its collaborators.

The collaboration will encompass the development of next-generation immunotherapies using Celldex’ APC targeting Mabs and the Ludwig TAAs. These development candidates will be available to LICR for evaluation within the Cancer Vaccine Collaborative (CVC) worldwide clinical research network, a collaboration between the LICR and the Cancer Research Institute.

"This system has the potential to deliver TAAs precisely to the right cells, in contrast to other TAA delivery technologies,” asserts Jonathan C.A. Skipper, Ph.D., executive director for intellectual property & technology licensing at the Ludwig Institute. “The CVC is very much looking forward to exploring this promising TAA delivery approach in its early-phase clinic trials."