Starpharma Partners with Genentech for Cancer Therapy Development

Under the agreement, Starpharma will receive an upfront payment of USD $5.5 million and is eligible for development, commercial, and net sales milestones totaling up to USD $564 million.

Starpharma has entered a collaboration and license agreement with Genentech, part of the Roche Group, to develop potential cancer therapies using Starpharma’s DEP® drug delivery technology.

Under the agreement, Starpharma will receive an upfront payment of USD $5.5 million and is eligible for development, commercial, and net sales milestones totaling up to USD $564 million.

In addition, Starpharma may receive tiered royalties on global net sales of products resulting from the collaboration.

The agreement grants Genentech an exclusive worldwide license under Starpharma’s intellectual property to develop and commercialize products arising from the partnership, which could include multiple products per oncology target. Starpharma will apply its DEP® platform to create dendrimer-drug conjugates incorporating Genentech medicines for selected oncology indications.

Cheryl Maley, Chief Executive Officer of Starpharma, said, “We are excited to enter into this agreement, which recognises Starpharma’s dendrimer technology and its potential to benefit novel drug development. It also reflects the diligent work undertaken during the past three years by Starpharma and Genentech of our previous collaborative research focused on innovating and developing cancer therapies utilising Starpharma’s proprietary dendrimer technology platform, DEP®. Building on three years of collaborative research, we are confident the shared commitment and strengths of both teams will enable effective execution, with the overarching goal of delivering meaningful outcomes for patients.”

DEP® Technology to Enhance Oncology Drug Development

Starpharma’s DEP® platform offers improved solubility, controlled pharmacokinetics, enhanced efficacy, and better toxicity profiles. It is applicable across various drug classes, including small molecules, peptides, and proteins, and can support the development of chemotherapeutics, radiotheranostics, and antibody-drug conjugates.

Boris L. Zaïtra, Head of Roche Corporate Business Development, added, “For more than 60 years, we have been developing innovative oncology medicines, and our dedication to transforming cancer care remains unwavering. We're committed to turning science into life-changing breakthroughs for patients.”

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