UMC Utrecht spinout Gadeta has partnered cancer drug developer Kite to drive development of its T-cell therapy, allowing Kite to purchase equity from Gadeta's existing shareholders.
Kite, a cancer drug subsidiary of biopharmaceutical firm Gilead Sciences, has made a secondary investment in Gadeta, a Netherlands-based immuno-oncology spinout from University Medical Center Utrecht.
The deal forms part of a strategic partnership to harness the gamma delta T-cell receptor for treatments targeting various cancers. Kite will provide Gadeta with funding for R&D and may make additional payments should the spinout attain certain regulatory milestones.
Financial terms were not disclosed. Kite has gained an exclusive option to acquire Gadeta.
Founded in 2015, Gadeta is developing a cancer immunotherapy that exploits the gamma delta T-cell receptor to create T-cells with enhanced anti-cancer reactivity for fighting haematological conditions or solid tumours.
Gadeta was incorporated with help from Utrecht Holdings, the investment company of both University Medical Centre and Utrecht University.
The spinout’s co-founders are Jürgen Kuball, chairman of the department of haematology, and Mark de Boer, who stepped down as Gadeta’s…
