GO Therapeutics, Inc. (GO) announced on 10/2/18 that it has entered into a license agreement with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Roche). Under the terms of the agreement, GO will grant Roche a worldwide, exclusive license for antibodies generated to address a novel cancer-specific target to develop and commercialize a new glycotargeting bispecific antibody.

Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will pay GO upfront and near-term milestones of $9 million. GO will also be eligible to receive up to $186 million in potential milestone payments as well as mid-single-digit to low double-digit royalties on any future product sales. Further details about the transaction were not disclosed.

Constantine Theodoropulos, chief executive officer of GO Therapeutics, said, "GO's glycoprotein targeting platform opens an exciting class of tumor-specific antigens that can help widen the therapeutic window for cancer therapies such as T-cell bispecific antibodies, CAR-T and ADCs (Antibody Drug Conjugates). Preclinical data show GO’s approach can provide superior specificity in targeting solid tumors over normal tissue, and demonstrate clean in-vivo toxicity profiles in the context of potent immunotherapies."

GO Therapeutics is applying the latest advances in glycobiology to create cancer drugs that are more potent and less toxic. GO Therapeutics’ cancer specific antibodies against tumor-specific antigens can be used in a multimodal approach to killing cancer, such as antibody-drug-conjugates, bispecific T-cell engagers and immune-based cell therapies. The company’s scientific team includes some of the leading scientific researchers and applied biologists in glycoproteomics.