U.S. biotechnology company Genentech, a unit of Swiss drug giant Roche, has agreed to invest up to $2 billion in rival Adaptive Biotechnologies’ technology platform, TruTCR, to develop cancer drugs.
Genentech expects TruTCR to identify T-cell receptor (TCRs) that can effectively recognize and target specific neoantigens while Adaptive will also use its technology to isolate optimal TCRs.
In connection with the deal, Genentech will control the clinical and regulatory process, as well as commercialization, and Adaptive will be responsible for patient-specific screening.
The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019.