2seventy bio, Inc. and JW Therapeutics announced their intention to expand their strategic alliance. The expansion, based on the partnership that was established last year, builds upon the companies' translational and clinical cell therapy development platform originally designed to more rapidly explore T cell-based immunotherapy therapy products in Greater China. Specifically, the companies intend to add up to two additional candidates from the 2seventy portfolio, one in solid tumor indications using T-cell receptor (TCR) based technology and a second in autoimmune disease using a CAR T cell approach.

As announced in October 2022, the initial focus of the collaboration was 2seventy bio's potency enhanced MAGE-A4 T-cellTCR program in solid tumors which is being developed as part of a collaboration with Regeneron. Over the last 10 months, JW Therapeutics has successfully progressed this candidate and is on track to initiate an investigator-initiated study in China by the end of 2023 and well ahead of the original timeline. In addition to the pace of development, the significantly better cost structure of preclinical and early clinic development performed through JW Therapeutics' internal and external development network provides additional rationale for further collaboration.

To this end, the intent of the expanded collaboration is to add two new programs: an additional solid tumor program and 2seventy's first autoimmune disease (AID) targeted CAR T cell program. 2seventy's AID program is a natural extension of its' internal expertise in CAR T cell research and significant clinical experience in both B-cell targeted and plasma cell-targeted CAR T cells in oncology - the two antibody securing cell types in the body that play a role in the pathobiology of autoimmune disorders. 2seventy's construct has been designed to achieve the breadth and depth of target cell elimination necessary to potentially provide a superior outcome for patients suffering from the plethora of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases.