Adaptive Biotechnologies signs two TCR licensing deals with Pfizer

Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ADPT) announced two agreements with Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) to provide T-cell receptor discovery capabilities and immune receptor data for drug research and development.

Under the first agreement, Adaptive will use its immune medicine platform to identify disease-causing T-cell receptors as potential therapeutic targets in rheumatoid arthritis. The company will apply its platform to Pfizer's clinical samples to identify TCRs that are enriched in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Pfizer will use this data for research and development of potential therapeutic candidates.

The second agreement grants Pfizer access to Adaptive's TCR-antigen binding datasets. Pfizer will use this data to develop and train artificial intelligence and machine learning models for research and drug discovery across multiple disease areas.

Adaptive will receive an upfront payment for the rheumatoid arthritis agreement and may be eligible for additional milestones that could total approximately $890 million. The company will also receive an upfront payment and potential annual licensing fees under the multi-year data access agreement. Specific financial terms were not disclosed.

Under the rheumatoid arthritis agreement, Adaptive will lead target discovery activities while Pfizer will handle development and commercialization of any resulting therapies. Both agreements are non-exclusive.

Chad Robins, chief executive officer of Adaptive Biotechnologies, said the company has assembled immune receptor data and enhanced understanding of T-cell biology through its AI-enabled platform.

Adaptive Biotechnologies focuses on translating the genetics of the adaptive immune system into clinical products for diagnosing and treating diseases including cancer and autoimmune disorders.

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