C4 Therapeutics, Inc. (C4T) announced that it has entered into a new collaboration agreement with Roche to advance research in the emerging degrader-antibody conjugate (DAC) modality. Working together, C4T and Roche will combine antibody-drug conjugation (ADC) and targeted protein degradation (TPD) to develop a new way to treat cancers that leverages both the specificity and catalytic efficiency of degraders with the delivery capabilities of ADCs. Under the joint research plan, C4T and Roche will collaborate on two programs to develop DACs against undisclosed oncology targets exclusive to the collaboration.
C4T will use its proprietary TORPEDO platform to design degrader payload candidates. Roche will select and design the antibody as well as conjugate the antibody to the degrader payload. Roche will be responsible for advancing DAC candidates through preclinical and clinical development as well as commercialization.
C4T will receive a $20 million upfront payment for the two programs. Should Roche exercise its option for a third target, C4T will receive an additional payment. Across the collaboration, C4T will receive near-term discovery milestone payments. C4T is eligible to receive over $1 billion in discovery, regulatory and commercial milestone payments.
In addition, C4T is entitled to tiered royalties on future sales, subject to reductions under certain circumstances as described in the collaboration agreement.
