Ensoma Launches, Enters Collaboration with Takeda

Boston-based Ensoma, formally launched in early February, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Takeda. The agreement grants Takeda an exclusive worldwide license to Ensoma’s Engenious™ vectors for up to five rare disease indications. Takeda will make an equity investment of $10 million in Ensoma’s Series A Preferred Stock with the potential for $100 million in upfront and preclinical research payments. In total, assuming success for five programs, Ensoma is eligible to receive up to $1.25 billion from Takeda, including additional development and commercialization milestone payments and up to low double-digit royalties on net sales of each product.

Ensoma’s Engenious vectors are designed to deliver a diverse range of gene modification technologies – including those that require a high level of packaging capacity – directly to hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) or the various cell types that arise from these cells, such as T cells, B cells and myeloid cells, without the need for stem cell collection or prior myeloablative conditioning (e.g., chemotherapy). As a result, Ensoma’s therapies can be delivered “off-the-shelf” in settings including doctors’ offices and mobile clinics.

Under the terms of the collaboration, Takeda is granted an exclusive worldwide license to Ensoma’s Engenious vector technology platform for up to five rare genetic disease indications.   Ensoma will conduct preclinical research activities for the Takeda programs, and both parties will share in responsibilities leading to submission of Investigational New Drug (IND) applications. Takeda will lead development activities thereafter. (Source: Ensoma Website, 11 February, 2021)