Twist Bioscience Enters into an Exclusive Option and License Agreement with Astellas for Antibodies

Twist Bioscience Corporation entered into a research collaboration and exclusive option license agreement with Astellas Pharma Inc. The companies will jointly conduct research activities to identify and optimize proprietary Twist antagonist antibodies, targeting an undisclosed checkpoint inhibitor pathway in the tumor microenvironment (TME), as potential therapeutic development candidates. Twist will receive an up-front payment from Astellas as well as an additional payment upon the exercise of the licensing option. Twist will receive payments connected to success-based clinical milestones as well as royalty payments on product sales for each licensed product. Astellas will be responsible for the development, manufacturing and commercialization of any licensed products. Astellas will also have the exclusive option to license any development candidates generated as part of the collaboration.