AstraZeneca and Quell, a biotechnology company focused on developing cell therapies, have signed a $2 billion agreement to develop and commercialize cell therapies that have the potential to be curative in type 1 diabetes.
Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will pay Quell $1 billion upfront and up to $1 billion in additional payments based on development and commercial milestones. Quell will receive royalties on net sales of any products that are commercialized as a result of the collaboration.
The collaboration will focus on developing cell therapies that use Quell's proprietary technology to reprogram cells from a patient's own body to produce insulin. The companies expect to begin clinical trials in the next two years.
"This collaboration is a significant step forward in our efforts to develop new and innovative treatments for type 1 diabetes," said Mene Pangalos, executive vice president of BioPharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca. "We are excited to partner with Quell, a leader in cell therapy, and we look forward to working together to bring this promising technology to patients."
"We are thrilled to partner with AstraZeneca, a global leader in the pharmaceutical industry," said David Lebwohl, CEO of Quell. "This collaboration will enable us to accelerate the development and commercialization of our cell therapy platform, which has the potential to transform the lives of people with type 1 diabetes."
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack its own insulin-producing cells. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body to use glucose for energy. Without insulin, people with type 1 diabetes must inject themselves with insulin several times a day.
There is currently no cure for type 1 diabetes. However, cell therapies have the potential to be curative by providing patients with new insulin-producing cells.
The AstraZeneca-Quell collaboration is one of several recent deals in the field of cell therapy for type 1 diabetes. In March, Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company, acquired Semma Therapeutics, a company that is developing cell therapies for type 1 diabetes.
The development of cell therapies for type 1 diabetes is a promising area of research. However, it is important to note that these therapies are still in the early stages of development and it is not yet clear when they will be available to patients.