Neogene Therapeutics

Neogene Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing T cell therapies directed at neo-antigens, the mutated proteins expressed by cancer cells. Its approach engineers a patient's own T cells with neo-antigen-specific T cell receptors to redirect their antigen specificity against tumors. The company's platform isolates neo-antigen-specific TCR genes from tumor biopsies routinely collected during patient treatment: tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in those biopsies frequently carry TCRs specific for cancer-associated mutated proteins, and Neogene uses DNA sequencing, DNA synthesis and genetic screening tools to identify these TCR genes with sensitivity, specificity and at scale.

The pipeline spans both fully individualized (patient-specific) and shared neoantigen TCR programs, most of which were preclinical or in early clinical investigation at the time of the AstraZeneca transaction. To address immunosuppression in the solid tumor microenvironment, one program knocks out the receptor for transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), a cytokine that suppresses T cell cytotoxicity, proliferation and cytokine production; animal studies indicated that the modified T cells are no longer inactivated by the cytokine. In May 2022 the company announced approval of a clinical trial application for its first Phase 1 trial of a fully individualized TCR therapy in advanced solid tumors.

Founding story

Neogene was co-founded by Carsten Linnemann, PhD, who serves as President and Chief Executive Officer, and by Ton Schumacher, PhD, in whose laboratory at The Netherlands Cancer Institute Linnemann earned his PhD on engineering T cell immunity by TCR gene transfer. Linnemann previously was Associate Director, Next Generation T Cell Therapies and Managing Director of Kite Pharma EU B.V., and had co-founded T-Cell Factory B.V., acquired by Kite Pharma in 2015.

Business model

Biopharmaceutical developer of autologous engineered cell therapies, advancing proprietary TCR-T programs from discovery through clinical development, supplemented by in-licensing of external TCR assets.

Traction

Received approval of a clinical trial application for its first Phase 1 study of a fully individualized TCR therapy in advanced solid tumors (May 2022) and secured an exclusive license from the U.S. National Cancer Institute for a portfolio of TCRs targeting KRAS and TP53 mutations (January 2022). Reported headcount is in the 51-250 range.

Latest developments

On 29 November 2022 AstraZeneca and Neogene entered a definitive agreement under which AstraZeneca would acquire all outstanding equity for total consideration of up to $320 million excluding cash and debt, comprising a $200 million payment on completion and up to $120 million in contingent milestone payments and non-contingent consideration, with closing expected in the first quarter of 2023 subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.