Hogan Lovells team advises Gilead Sciences in a strategic research collaboration with Dragonfly Therapeutics to develop natural killer cell engagers in oncology and inflammation
Tysons Corner, VA, 28 July 2022 – Global law firm Hogan Lovells has advised Gilead Sciences, Inc. in entering into a strategic research collaboration with Dragonfly Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing and commercializing therapies that use its novel TriNKET™ technology to harness the body's innate immune system to bring breakthrough treatments to patients.
The agreement will grant Gilead Sciences exclusive rights to the 5T4-targeting investigational immunotherapy program, DF7001, as well as options to exclusively license additional NK cell engager programs using the Dragonfly Tri-specific NK Engager (TriNKET™) platform.
Under the terms of the agreement, Gilead will make a $300 million upfront payment to Dragonfly, and Dragonfly is eligible to receive potential opt-in payments and performance-based development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments. Dragonfly will also be eligible to receive royalties of up to 20% on worldwide net sales.
The transaction is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
DF7001 is an investigational product candidate; it is not approved by any regulatory agency for any use and has not been proven safe or efficacious.
The Hogan Lovells team advising Gilead Sciences was led by Intellectual Property, Media, & Technology (IPMT) partner Cullen Taylor (Northern Virginia) with support from IPMT counsel Anishiya Abrol (Washington); senior associate Rachel Eisen (Northern Virginia); antitrust partner Lauren Battaglia and counsel Robert Baldwin (both Washington); and Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology Regulatory associate Alexandra Wood (London).