Genentech's Immunology/Infectious Disease Deal Maker On Following The Science

Genentech’s infectious diseases and immunology dealmaker speaks to Scrip about the significance of following the science when it comes to partnering.

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Genentech had been closely monitoring the microbiome space for “at least four years” before a deal was struck • Source: Shutterstock

When reflecting on the licensing deals inked this year by biotech behemoth Genentech Inc., two really stand out: the June deal with microbiome company Microbiotica Ltd. to discover, develop and commercialize treatments for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), (Also see "Genentech Mines The Microbiome Again With IBD Deal" - Scrip, 7 June, 2018.) and the collaboration signed with Germany’s Affimed NV to develop and commercialize novel natural killer (NK) cell engager-based immunotherapeutics to treat multiple cancers. (Also see "Roche Pact Is Affirmation Of Affimed Technology " - Scrip, 28 August, 2018.)

Both these deals bring cutting edge science to Roche's biotech arm, says Don O’Sullivan, the company’s head of Immunology...

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