Australian biotech company Starpharma has signed a licensing agreement with Genentech, a U.S.-based biotech firm owned by the Roche Group, to collaborate on new cancer treatments using Starpharma’s DEP drug delivery technology.
According to a news release, the agreement gives Genentech the rights to develop and commercialize several cancer drug programs using Starpharma’s DEP platform, which is designed to improve how drugs behave in the body, making them more effective and easier to deliver.
As part of the deal, Starpharma will receive $5.5 million upfront, and could earn up to $564 million in future milestone payments. The company will reportedly also receive tiered royalties on any future product sales.
Genentech is known for producing therapies for serious and life-threatening diseases. This partnership builds on several years of joint research between the two companies.
“This agreement recognizes the potential of our dendrimer technology to transform drug development and builds on three years of collaborative research with Genentech. With their world-class expertise and our proprietary DEP platform, we are well-positioned to deliver meaningful outcomes for patients,” Starpharma CEO Cheryl Maley said in a statement.
