IASO Biotherapeutics Announces New Development Partnership With Umoja Biopharma

San Diego – January 4, 2024 – Cooley advised IASO Biotherapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company engaged in discovering, developing, manufacturing and marketing innovative cell therapies and antibody products, on its new set of collaborations with Umoja Biopharma for the development and commercialization of novel ex vivo and in vivo cell and gene therapies. Partner Christina Zhang led the Cooley team advising IASO Bio.

Under the terms of the collaborations, IASO Bio will receive exclusive access to the rapamycin-activated cytokine receptor platform – Umoja’s synthetic cytokine receptor technology – for the development of two ex vivo induced pluripotent stem cell-derived chimeric antigen receptor-bearing cell therapies. IASO will be responsible for worldwide product development, manufacturing, regulatory and commercialization of both ex vivo products. In exchange, Umoja will receive exclusive rights to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cassettes for two targets for the advancement of two in vivo product candidates incorporating VivoVec – Umoja’s proprietary lentiviral in vivo gene delivery technology. Umoja will be responsible for product development, manufacturing, regulatory and commercialization in territories outside of Greater China, with IASO Bio responsible for the Greater China territory. In addition, each party is entitled to customary development and sales milestones and royalties in the relevant collaborations. Collectively, this set of collaborations seeks to advance off-the-shelf cell and gene therapies that are rooted in innovative scientific advancements with applications in oncology and immunology.

IASO Bio engages in discovery and development of novel cell therapies and biologics for oncology and autoimmune diseases. It possesses comprehensive capabilities spanning the entire drug development process – from early discovery to clinical development, regulatory approval and commercial production.

Umoja Biopharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company aiming to develop off-the-shelf therapeutics that improve the reach, effectiveness and access of CAR T cell therapies in oncology and autoimmunity.

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