Clade Therapeutics has acquired Gadeta, a company specialising in innovative gamma/delta (g/d) T-cell receptor (TCR)-based immunotherapies for cancer patients.
Gadeta’s proprietary platform enables the engineering of unique g/d TCRs capable of targeting a broad range of tumours by recognising distinct patterns or markers on the surface of cancer cells.
The acquisition equips Clade with preclinical cell therapy programmes, a g/d TCR discovery engine, and cell enhancement technologies that can bolster the anti-tumour effectiveness of cell therapies.
This integration aligns with Clade’s cellular platform technology, allowing for the development of scalable and consistent stem-cell-based medicines that can be engineered and used off the shelf.
Under the acquisition agreement, Clade has assumed full ownership of Gadeta, and Gadeta’s shareholders will benefit from upfront and downstream economic considerations.
Clade Therapeutics CEO Chad Cowan said: “Clade is at the forefront of broadening the impact of cell therapy by establishing a more robust cellular platform with stem-cell derived immune cells.
“Our technology platform consists of both a ‘Cell Foundry’ that enables the generation of adult immune cells including both CD8+ and CD4+ T Cells, as well as a ‘Cloaking Engine’ that ensures best-in-class and tuned protection from both the cellular and humoral wings of a host’s immune system.
“The acquisition of Gadeta represents a strategic move to integrate a third element to our platform: ‘Universal Targeting’. This integration seamlessly complements Clade’s existing platform and commitment to developing engineerable, off-the-shelf, scalable, and consistent cell medicines.”
Clade Therapeutics president and chief business offer Jim Glasheen said: “Gadeta has generated compelling in-vitro and in-vivo data over the last few years with its lead gamma/delta (g/d) TCRs in solid tumour indications and we’re excited to integrate this novel targeting into Clade’s solid tumour programmes.
“Clade’s pipeline programs are focused on replicating the benefits of the autologous cell therapy products, while addressing their profound limitations – inconsistent quality, challenging patient logistics, and lack of scalability.
“This acquisition reaffirms our belief that Clade’s engineerable platform provides the right ‘chassis’ for integrating compelling innovations coming out of the autologous cell therapy ecosystem.”
Gadeta CEO Marcel Zwaal said: “Today, we are pleased to announce a significant milestone in the journey of Gadeta. Our pipeline of novel, distinctive g/d TCRs has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of patients with solid tumours, and this strategic transaction with Clade Therapeutics represents a major step towards bringing our novel g/d TCRs to the clinic in an off-the-shelf platform.”
