Gilead and Vir partner to develop next‑generation T‑cell engagers for solid tumours
The two companies will share an upfront payment and future milestones to create three dual‑masked T‑cell therapies.
16 Oct 2026 0 reads Compiled with AI
#Gilead Sciences #Vir Biotechnology #T-cell engagers
Gilead Sciences and Vir Biotechnology have signed a new deal that gives Gilead an exclusive license to three dual‑masked T‑cell engagers (TCEs). The agreement provides an upfront payment, potential near‑term pre‑clinical milestones, and future development, regulatory and commercial milestones. Gilead will develop, manufacture and commercialise the therapies and will hold the power to nominate and advance the trio.
Technology behind the TCEs
Technology behind the TCEs: The TCEs will use Vir’s PRO‑XTEN technology, which extends the half‑life of a T‑cell engager and prevents it from activating before reaching the tumour microenvironment. The company then uses its AI‑enabled dAIsY platform to optimise the molecules for safety and dosing. Vir’s president Marianne De Backer says the collaboration will help create differentiated candidates for difficult solid tumours, potentially improving toxicity and dosing schedules compared with current options.
Context and outlook: This partnership follows earlier joint work on hepatitis‑B drugs in 2021 and complements other deals that big pharma are making on TCEs, such as GSK, Bristol‑Myers‑Squibb and UCB. Gilead recently entered the TCE space by buying Ouro Medicines and by partnering with Astellas on a prostate‑cancer TCE. Analysts say TCEs will disrupt relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma in the coming years.