AstraZeneca, which has a significant presence in Montgomery County with a large scientific campus/base in Gaithersburg and a new manufacturing facility in Rockville, has agreed to acquire EsoBiotec– a biotech company specializing in innovative cell therapies, for up to $1 billion.
According to an AstraZeneca press release, EsoBiotec’s Engineered NanoBody Lentiviral (ENaBL) platform shows promising early clinical results and helps the immune system target and attack cancer cells. This method allows for quicker access to cell therapies, taking just minutes rather than the weeks required by traditional methods.
Susan Galbraith, AstraZeneca’s Executive Vice President for Oncology, expressed excitement about the acquisition and its potential to transform cell therapy, making innovative treatments available to more patients worldwide. Jean-Pierre Latere, CEO of EsoBiotec, noted the importance of partnering with AstraZeneca to accelerate the development of their platform, which has a unique delivery method that could be widely applicable.
The ENaBL platform uses lentiviruses to deliver genetic instructions to specific immune cells, like T cells, enabling them to recognize and destroy tumor cells or other harmful cells in autoimmune diseases. This means that cell therapies can be given through a simple IV injection without needing to deplete the patient’s immune cells.
Traditional cell therapies require removing cells from the patient, modifying them outside the body, and then reintroducing them after a lengthy process. In contrast, EsoBiotec’s approach works by engineering immune cells directly in the patient’s body, simplifying the process and potentially increasing patient access.
EsoBiotec will become a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca, based in Belgium. Financial details below:
AstraZeneca will pay $425 million at closing, with an additional potential $575 million based on development and regulatory milestones. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approvals, and will not affect AstraZeneca’s financial guidance for 2025.