AbbVie and Umoja Sign Pact To Develop in-situ CAR T Cell Therapies

AbbVie and Umoja Biopharma (Umoja), a biotechnology startup in early clinical stages, signed two exclusive option and licensing agreements to develop numerous in-situ produced CAR-T cell treatment candidates in oncology using Umoja's patented VivoVec platform. AbbVie has an exclusive option to license Umoja's CD19 directed in-situ produced CAR-T cell therapy candidates under the initial agreement. 

This includes UB-VV111, Umoja's lead clinical program for hematologic malignancies currently at the IND-enabling phase. Under the terms of the second agreement, AbbVie and Umoja will develop up to four additional in-situ generated CAR-T cell therapy candidates for discovery targets selected by AbbVie, as per pharmabiz

"As we continue to strengthen our oncology portfolio, we believe that in-situ CAR-T cell therapy represents a paradigm shift utilizing genetic medicine concepts," said Jonathon Sedgwick, Ph.D., vice president and global head of discovery research at AbbVie. "We look forward to working with Umoja's team to advance next-generation in-situ CAR-T therapies, and potentially expand the patient populations and indications benefitting from conventional CAR-T approaches."

The VivoVec gene delivery platform developed by Umoja combines third generation lentiviral vector gene delivery with a new T-cell targeting and activation surface complex. This allows T cells to produce their own cancer-fighting CAR-T cells in the body. This has the potential to eliminate a number of challenges associated with traditional CAR-T approaches, such as the reliance on gathering a patient's own or donor cells that are then modified externally before being returned to the patient, the associated time lag and manufacturing challenges of ex vivo cell modification, and the requirement for patient lymphodepletion.

"AbbVie is an ideal partner for Umoja given their broad expertise in development and commercialization of novel therapeutics in haematology, oncology, and beyond," said David Fontana, Ph.D., chief operating and business officer at Umoja.