Novartis, Legend bringing rapid CAR T manufacturing to solid tumors

Novartis and Legend are tackling the CAR T cell solid tumor problem through a licensing deal that brings together Legend’s CAR designs and Novartis’ rapid manufacturing platform. The hope is that the combination of technologies will lead to a cell therapy product that’s able to persist in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. 

Legend Biotech Corp. (NASDAQ:LEGN) will receive $100 million up front and up to $1.01 billion in milestones, plus tiered royalties. In exchange, Novartis AG (SIX:NOVN; NYSE:NVS) will receive exclusive worldwide rights to DLL3-targeted CAR T cell therapies including LB2102. The program, which is enrolling a Phase I small cell lung cancer (SCLC) trial, has yet to produce clinical data. ...