As per the terms, the companies will also collaborate to discover further A2A receptor-blocking compounds for use in cancer immunotherapy
Singapore: In a bid to further strengthen its cancer immunotherapy drug portfolio, British drug giant AstraZeneca has struck a deal with Sosei's biotech unit, Heptares. The deal gives AstraZeneca exclusive global rights to HTL-1071 adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, an experimental treatment developed by Heptares.
As per the terms, the companies will also collaborate to discover further A2A receptor-blocking compounds for use in cancer immunotherapy. With existing medicines losing patent protection, AstraZeneca is betting on new cancer treatments to revive its fortunes.
British-based Heptares specializes in work on an important class of proteins known as G-protein-coupled receptors, or GPCRs, which serve as a main conduit for chemicals to get past a cell's membrane and be taken up by a cell. Heptares was acquired by Japan's Sosei in February for $400 million.
