GentiBio to Collaborate with BMS on Treg Therapies

Cambridge startup GentiBio has announced a collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb to develop new engineered Treg (regulatory T cell) therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Tregs, formerly known as suppressor T cells, are a subpopulation of T cells that modulate the immune system, maintain tolerance to self-antigens, and prevent autoimmune disease. The collaboration brings together GentiBio’s proprietary engineered Treg platform for generating scalable, stable, highly-selective, and durable Tregs with Bristol Myers Squibb’s leadership in cell therapies and immunology.

During the multi-year collaboration, GentiBio will apply its modular engineered Treg platform and scalable manufacturing process to produce stable and disease-specific engineered Tregs against multiple targets. BMS will have the right to develop and advance up to three of the resulting programs into clinical trials. Under the terms of the agreement, BMS made an undisclosed upfront cash payment to GentiBio. GentiBio is eligible to receive development and sales milestone payments of up to $1.9 billion and royalties.

“Unlike existing therapies, Tregs have the unique potential to re-establish immune tolerance in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as IBD. This strategic collaboration reflects our shared commitment to creating innovative immunotherapies that are designed to be potent, durable, selective and have the potential to significantly shift the standard of care for patients with autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases,” said Adel Nada, M.D., M.S., co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of GentiBio.

IBD is characterized by debilitating and life-threatening chronic inflammation of the GI tract. Current therapies are largely focused on systemic anti-inflammatory agents and broad immunosuppression, which can have adverse effects outside the GI tract. (Source: GentiBio Website, 10 August, 2022)