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The Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC), Singapore’s national platform for drug discovery and development hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), announced a new research collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo aimed at developing next generation NK cell engagers (NKCEs) for cancer therapy.
Under this collaboration, EDDC and Daiichi Sankyo will work on a preclinical research programme focused on novel NKCEs developed by EDDC, which will be designed and evaluated for improved antitumour activity with reduced systemic inflammatory responses.
NKCEs are an emerging class of immunotherapies designed to guide the body’s natural killer cells to better recognise and eliminate cancer cells. These next‑generation molecules will be developed for stronger anti‑tumour activity while aiming to reduce systemic inflammatory responses, addressing key challenges that often limit today’s immunotherapies.
“Too many promising immunotherapies are constrained not by the science, but by real‑world challenges such as toxicity, durability, and patient reach,” said Prof. Damian O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer of EDDC. “This collaboration reflects EDDC’s strategy to tackle those challenges head‑on by pairing our advanced biologics and multi‑specific engineering capabilities with Daiichi Sankyo’s development and industry expertise. Together, we are focused on delivering next‑generation therapies to patients with cancer.”
