Epitopea and MSD join forces to advance immuno-oncology research

Epitopea and MSD have signed a license and research collaboration agreement to identify tumour-specific antigens. 

Epitopea, a transatlantic cancer immunotherapeutics company developing accessible, off-the-shelf RNA-based immunotherapies, has signed a license and research collaboration agreement with MSD (tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA), a leader in immunotherapy therapeutic development, to identify tumour-specific antigens (TSAs) called CryptigensTM in an undisclosed solid tumour. 

Under the terms of the agreement, Epitopea will deploy its CryptoMapTM platform to identify and provide new immunogenic Cryptigen™ TSAs, while MSD will have the exclusive right to develop and commercialize the therapies derived from the collaboration. In return, Epitopea will receive an undisclosed upfront payment and is eligible for milestone payments with the potential to total up to $300 million per product. 

BCF would like to congratulate Alan Rigby (CEO), Steven Klein (CBO) and the Epitopea team on securing this strategic collaboration with MSD. We are proud to have represented Epitopea in this agreement with a team led by Annie Gauthier and composed of Gino Martel and Luka Pavlovic. 

For more information regarding the collaboration between Epitopea and MSD, read this press release.