Roche and SQZ Biotech are working together to develop a cell therapy platform that would empower patients’ own immune cells to fight a broad range of cancers.

SQZ’s pioneering technology is based on introducing proteins, or antigens, into patients’ B cells which will then help activate killer T cells to attack the cancer. SQZ said its novel approach, which seeks to target tumors more effectively, has the potential to overcome many of the shortcomings of current cell-based therapies.

Under the deal, the US biotech firm, a spin-out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), will get more than $500 million in upfront and potential clinical, regulatory and sales milestone-based payments as well as royalties on potential future products.

SQZ Biotech is backed by Polaris Venture Partners and 20/20 Healthcare Partners.