The UK’s Tusk Therapeutics is joining Cancer Research Technology (CRT) and University College London (UCL) to research, develop and commercialize an antibody-based therapeutic against a target known to play a key role in immune suppression in cancer.

Under the agreement’s terms, Tusk gets an exclusive worldwide licence from CRT, which is the commercial arm of charity Cancer Research UK, for therapeutic antibodies that have originated from research carried out by two experts at UCL. CRT will receive an upfront payment, future success-based milestones and royalty payments, which will be shared with UCL.

In addition, Tusk has signed a three-year collaboration with CRT and UCL to part-fund a program of preclinical work assessing antibodies in various cancer models before formal preclinical and clinical development. At the end of the collaboration, Tusk will take on responsibility for accelerating the progress of any selected candidates into the clinic.

Commenting on the partnership, Luc Dochez, CEO of Tusk Therapeutics, said: “The collaboration fits Tusk’s strategy of working with top researchers in the immuno-oncology field and to bring promising assets from early stage recovery through development and to the clinic.”

CRT’s director of business management, Phil L’Huillier, added that the project is one of several in its portfolio focused on immuno-oncology.