Merck Serono, Sutro Biopharma ink deal for new antibody drug conjugates

The two firms will jointly discover and develop multiple ADCs, antibodies linked to cytotoxic drugs for more targeted delivery, using Sutro’s cell-free protein synthesis platforms Xpress CF and Xpress CF+.

As per the deal, Sutro will be responsible for delivering ADCs for Phase I clinical trials, while Merck Serono retains responsibility for clinical development and commercialisation of any resulting products.

Merck Serono Translational Innovation Platform Oncology senior vice-president and head Andree Blaukat said the company continues to explore opportunities that will allow them to better understand the potential ADCs have in directly targeting cancer cells.

Under the deal, Merck will make an upfront payment to Sutro and will fund certain R&D activities, while its partner stands to receive payments on completion of certain research, development and regulatory milestones of about €230m as well as royalties on product sales in return.

Sutro chief executive officer William Newell said the partnership will help the company to advance its position as a leading drug discovery partner to renowned pharmaceutical companies like Merck in Darmstadt, Germany.

"Together with Merck KGaA, we will further advance our efforts to develop antibody therapeutics, engineered to deliver a cytotoxic agent to cancer cells," Newell said.

"Our technology has been developed to allow loading of an antibody with multiple different agents and to enable a potential higher uptake of the drug in the tumor cell through improved stability of the ADC."