Words by EMJ GOLD newsdesk
AstraZeneca has announced a $1bn agreement to acquire EsoBiotec, a Belgian biotech firm pioneering in vivo cell therapies. The acquisition, expected to close in Q2 2025, will strengthen AstraZeneca’s capabilities in developing cancer treatments that reprogramme immune cells directly inside patients’ bodies, potentially transforming the approach to cell therapy.
EsoBiotec’s ENaBL platform uses lentiviral vectors to deliver genetic instructions to specific immune cells, such as T cells, enabling them to recognise and destroy tumour cells. This same technology could also target autoreactive cells, offering potential applications in immune-mediated diseases.
Unlike traditional cell therapies, which require extracting and modifying a patient’s cells in a lab before reinfusion, EsoBiotec’s in vivo approach allows for a simple intravenous injection – eliminating the need for immune cell depletion and significantly reducing treatment complexity. Beyond simplifying administration, this technology could help streamline manufacturing and improve patient access to advanced cell therapies.
Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President of Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, stated: “We believe it has the potential to transform cell therapy and will enable us to scale these innovative treatments so that many more patients around the world can access them.”
Jean-Pierre Latere, CEO, EsoBiotec, added: “By combining our expertise and resources, we can accelerate the development of our in vivo platform which has a novel delivery technology we believe will have broad therapeutic applicability.” The deal includes an initial payment of $425m, with additional payments contingent on development and regulatory milestones.
