AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) has announced the acquisition of EsoBiotec SA, a Belgian biotechnology company pioneering in vivo cell therapies. EsoBiotec’s Engineered NanoBody Lentiviral (ENaBL) platform, which has demonstrated promising early clinical activity, enables the direct in vivo modification of immune cells, potentially transforming cell therapy accessibility.
The ENaBL platform utilizes targeted lentiviruses to deliver genetic instructions to specific immune cells, such as T cells, programming them to recognize and destroy tumor cells in cancer or autoreactive cells in immune-mediated diseases. This approach allows for simple intravenous administration, eliminating the need for ex vivo cell modification and immune cell depletion required by traditional cell therapies.
By engineering immune cells within the patient’s body, EsoBiotec’s technology aims to overcome the complexities and manufacturing timelines of traditional cell therapies, increasing patient access.
Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology Haematology R&D, AstraZeneca, stated, “We are excited to acquire EsoBiotec and rapidly advance their in vivo platform. We believe it has the potential to scale cell therapy treatments, making them accessible to more patients globally. This acquisition significantly advances our ambition to realize the full potential of cell therapy.”
Jean-Pierre Latere, PhD, CEO, EsoBiotec, said, “We look forward to working with AstraZeneca to advance our shared goal of bringing transformative, cost-effective cell therapies to a wider patient population. Combining our expertise and resources will accelerate the development of our in vivo platform, which we believe has broad therapeutic applicability.”
EsoBiotec will become a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca, maintaining its operations in Belgium.
About EsoBiotec
EsoBiotec is a leading in vivo cell therapy company focused on making innovative treatments more accessible, effective, and affordable. Its ENaBL platform enables single IV, off-the-shelf cell therapies, reducing costs, improving patient experience, eliminating immune cell depletion, and potentially enhancing efficacy and safety through advanced lentiviral vector technology. The vector is designed for immune cell specificity and immune evasion.
Source:
https://www.esobiotec.com/esobiotec-to-be-acquired-by-astrazeneca-to-advance-cell-therapy-ambition/
About PackGene
PackGene Biotech is a world-leading CRO and CDMO, excelling in AAV vectors, mRNA, plasmid DNA, and lentiviral vector solutions. Our comprehensive offerings span from vector design and construction to AAV, lentivirus, and mRNA services. With a sharp focus on early-stage drug discovery, preclinical development, and cell and gene therapy trials, we deliver cost-effective, dependable, and scalable production solutions. Leveraging our groundbreaking π-alpha 293 AAV high-yield platform, we amplify AAV production by up to 10-fold, yielding up to 1e+17vg per batch to meet diverse commercial and clinical project needs. Moreover, our tailored mRNA and LNP products and services cater to every stage of drug and vaccine development, from research to GMP production, providing a seamless, end-to-end solution.
