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DX Deals: Twist Bioscience Unveils 3 New Strategic Collaborations for Synthetic Biology Discovery

by Glenn S. Demby | Oct 1, 2021 | Deals-lir, Essential, Laboratory Industry Report

High-quality synthetic DNA powers molecular research and the discovery and development of innovative new diagnostic products. Twist Bioscience has developed a proprietary process featuring a high-throughput silicon platform for miniaturization. It’s a lot like the process used in the semiconductor industry applied to miniaturize chemistry needed for DNA synthesis. The Twist platform is capable of synthesizing 9,600 genes on a single chip, as compared to the single gene produced by traditional methods in the same footprint. Now the South San Francisco-based company is aggressively pursuing strategic collaborations designed to expand its synthetic DNA manufacturing process, unveiling three new partnerships in the past six weeks. The 3 Deals The dealmaking spree began on Aug. 18, when Twist announced that it had partnered with reagent developer SomaLogic to discover new antibodies. The plan calls for Twist to identify antibodies against targets coming out of SomaLogic’s SomaScan proteomics platform. “The SomaScanplatform provides a rich source of clinically relevant biomarkers in diverse therapeutic areas,” noted Twist CEO and cofounder Emily Leproust in a statement. Twist will then move the antibodies discovered through its internal pipeline, with the most promising candidates to undergo preclinical development and subsequent outlicensing to a partner. On Sept. 13, Twist […]

Now the South San Francisco-based company is aggressively pursuing strategic collaborations designed to expand its synthetic DNA manufacturing process, unveiling three new partnerships in the past six weeks.

The 3 Deals

The dealmaking spree began on Aug. 18, when Twist announced that it had partnered with reagent developer SomaLogic to discover new antibodies. The plan calls for Twist to identify antibodies against targets coming out of SomaLogic’s SomaScan proteomics platform. “The SomaScanplatform provides a rich source of clinically relevant biomarkers in diverse therapeutic areas,” noted Twist CEO and cofounder Emily Leproust in a statement. Twist will then move the antibodies discovered through its internal pipeline, with the most promising candidates to undergo preclinical development and subsequent outlicensing to a partner.

On Sept. 13, Twist announced a new collaboration with Menlo Park, California-based Adicet Bio to discover T-cell based cancer therapies for five undisclosed targets. Adicet produces off-the-shelf gamma delta T cells that can be used to enhance tumor targeting. Twist will provide its single-chain variable fragment and single-domain VHH antibody (nanobody) technologies to discover unique target-specific binders in exchange for an undisclosed upfront technology license fee for each program. Twist will also receive clinical and regulatory milestone payments and royalties for any product resulting from the selected targets.

The third deal, which was announced on Sept. 23, follows the same basic pattern but in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI). Twist’s collaborator is DeepCDR, a company that uses deep learning algorithms to discover and optimize antibodies. Twist will utilize Switzerland-based DeepCDR’s large panels of fully human antibody sequences to build multiple fully human naive synthetic antibody libraries, specifically, AI Hypermutated single-chain fragment variable (scFv) library and a new coronavirus-specific scFv library,” Leproust noted in a statement.

Here’s a summary of key strategic diagnostic deals announced in September 2021:

STRATEGIC ALLIANCES, PARTNERSHIPS & COLLABORATIONS

Partner 1	Partner(s) 2+	Deal Summary
Beckman Coulter Life Sciences	Invitae	Objective: Develop applications for Beckman’s new next-generation sequencing library prep system Dynamic: Invitae to create applications for Biomek NGenius Liquid Handling System available to instrument users via an electronic application library
Scienion	Pictor	Objective: Commercialize a high throughput SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing system Dynamic: Incorporate Scienion CL2 SciReader colorimetric microplate reader into Pictor’s PictArray SARS-CoV-2 Serology Test to create platform capable of testing for both anti-nucleocapsid and anti-spike antibodies in one reaction
BostonGene	MD Anderson Cancer Center	Objective: Validate and develop diagnostics based on cancer biomarkers identified by MD Anderson researchers Dynamic: Expand existing collaboration to include investigator-sponsored retrospective and prospective studies to identify and validate biomarkers for different cancers
Genetic Technologies (GT)	Washington University’s Institute for Public Health	Objective: Expand predictive capability of GT’s GeneType breast cancer risk assessment test for women of African descent Dynamic: GT to fund 9-month study study analyzing over 1,000 samples over a nine-month period with 43.5 percent of study costs to be offset by R&D tax rebates
PathAI	Summit Clinical Research	Objective: Launch clinical trial services solution for developers of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) treatment drugs Dynamic: Leverage PathAI’s AI tools for liver pathology evaluation in combination with Summit’s expertise in NASH drug development and accelerated study execution
Second Genome	Virginia Commonwealth University	Objective: Discover a noninvasive stool-based biomarker for NASH Dynamic: Apply Second Genome’s machine learning-based sg-4sight discovery platform to patient samples provided by VCU to identify a composite biomarker to diagnose NASH patients with advanced fibrosis
Persephone Biosciences	Janssen Biotech	Objective: Use patient samples from Janssen clinical trial for biomarker discovery Dynamic: Persephone to get access to stool samples obtained using its collection kit from patients in an undisclosed Janssen cancer clinical trial
Abacus Diagnostica	Kaivogen+ Labrox	Objective: Develop near-patient antibody and PCR tests for infectious diseases and cancers that can be run from a single device Dynamic: Slated for 2024 launch, platform will leverage PCR technology and a single sample to identify more than 10 bacteria or viruses and determine if a patient’s symptoms are caused by SARS-CoV-2, the flu or a cold
Helix	GenXys Health Care Systems	Objective: Provide a clinical decision support solution for Helix’s platform Dynamic: Incorporate GenXys platform into electronic medical record systems of Helix’s health system partners to serve as an “interpretation engine” for genetic test results
Genomenon	Alexion Pharmaceuticals	Objective: Provide data to help genetic testing labs diagnose patients with rare diseases Dynamic: Genomenon to use its AI-driven technology to create a “genomic landscape” for specific conditions
Molecular Health	Eone-Diagnomics Genome Center	Objective: Create combined precision oncology test Dynamic: Combine Molecular Health’s MH Guide software and EDGC’s OncoCatch-CDx assay EDGC to utilize its analysis software for identifying genetic variants relevant for treating cancer patients to support reporting of OncoCatch-CDx results to ordering clinicians
Sebia	Metafora Biosystems	Objective: Develop tests for Metafora’s technology platform Dynamic: Create new analytical methods, particularly in hematology, to support informed therapeutic decisions Under partnership, Sebia’s parent company Sphinx acquires minority share in Metafora
Deepcell	Stanford University	Objective: Build out broad-scale human cell atlas Dynamic: Deepcell to use its AI-based technology for label-free cell isolation and collection to help Stanford generate single-cell morphology data for the Tabula Sapiens program to build a benchmark human cell atlas of 2 million cells
Jumpcode Genomics	Translational Genomics Research Institute	Objective: Support investigations into genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 Dynamic: Use Jumpcode’s CRISPRclean technology combining CRISPR-based technology with next-generation sequencing to deplete unwanted nucleic acid sequences from a sample, to increase sensitivity and efficiency of sequencing
Roche	Medial EarlySign	Objective: Develop and commercialize AI-based early cancer detection tool Dynamic: Clinical decision support tool will use EarlySign’s software that incorporates lab results, EHR data and other clinical care, with initial focus on gastric cancer
Twist Bioscience	DeepCDR	Objective: Use deep learning algorithms for antibody discovery and optimization Dynamic: Latest in series of deals leveraging Twist’s synthetic antibody phage display libraries for new antibody discovery
Twist Bioscience	Adicet Bio	Objective: Develop T cell-based cancer therapies Dynamic: Twist to use its single-chain variable fragment and single-domain VHH antibody (nanobody) technologies to discover unique target-specific binders for use in engineering immune cells with fully human chimeric antigen receptors and T-cell receptors directed to disease-specific cell surface antigens Twist gets undisclosed upfront technology license fee for each program + clinical and regulatory milestone payments + royalties for any product resulting from selected targets
SomaLogic	UPMC	Objective: Find ways to use SomaLogic’s proteomics platform to impact clinical care Dynamic: Use SomaScan platform for clinical research and development projects exploring clinical uses of proteomic data, e.g., to inform doctors and patients about a person’s real-time health status or disease risk
Cedars-Sinai Cancer	Tempus	Objective: Advance a precision medicine research initiative Dynamic: Molecular Twin project to create a database of information to guide oncology treatment strategies and inform new research Collect patient samples and use them to create virtual replicas of their DNA, RNA, protein and other medical information
Siemens Healthineers	A1 Life Sciences	Objective: Develop and commercialize PCR-based assays for identifying SARS-CoV-2 mutations and variants Dynamic: Portfolio of A1 Life Sciences’ Diagnovital kits to complement Siemens’ FTD SARS-CoV-2 Assay for initial diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 by allowing for determining if positive sample harbors a mutation or variant of concern Siemens to distribute portfolio internationally for research use only
Foundation Medicine	Science 37	Objective: Create a home-based clinical trial model for patients who can’t travel to clinical trial sites Dynamic: Foundation to use its FoundationSmartTrials patient identification tool to identify patients who may be eligible for a clinical trial based on results from company’s comprehensive genomic profiling tests Science 37 to enroll patients and provide ongoing support
Bio-Techne	Carterra	Objective: Study more than 40 COVID-19 variants Dynamic: Use Carterra’s LSA high-throughput analytical platform to characterize panels of SARS-CoV-2 spike and receptor-binding domain variants to create tests for joint global launch in US, Europe and Asia
Illumina	Merck	Objective: Develop and commercialize tests gauging genetic mutations in homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) and identify best responders to PARP inhibitors Dynamic: Illumina to develop new HRD companion diagnostic for EU and UK markets to help identify ovarian cancer patients eligible for treatment with olaparib (Lynparza), a PARP inhibitor jointly developed by Merck and AstraZeneca
Agilent Technologies	Visiopharm	Objective: Comarket Agilent’s automated pathology staining solutions with Visiopharm’s AI-based pathology software products worldwide Dynamic: Initial focus on Europe Deal marks Agilent’s entry into digital pathology
Helix	Visiopharm	Objective: Comarket Agilent’s automated pathology staining solutions with Visiopharm’s AI-based pathology software products worldwide Dynamic: Initial focus on Europe Deal marks Agilent’s entry into digital pathology
Bionano Genomics	NuProbe Global	Objective: Provide reproductive health and oncology liquid biopsy testing Dynamic: NuProbe to integrate its quantitative amplicon sequencing (QASeq) and blocker displacement amplification (BDA) technologies with Bionano’s Saphyr optical genome mapping platform for research and product development
Thermo Fisher Scientific	AstraZeneca	Objective: Codevelop NGS-based companion diagnostics to support AstraZeneca’s targeted therapies Dynamic: Multi-year, global agreement with undisclosed terms

DISTRIBUTION, SALES & MARKETING AGREEMENTS

Product Owner	Distributor	Deal Summary
PhenoBiome	Genetic Direction	Products: PhenoBiome’s direct-to-consumer GxGutHealth gut microbiome assay service Territory: US Non-exclusive
Truckee Applied Genomics	Thomas Scientific	Products: Truckee’s sample transport products Territory: US, Puerto Rico Exclusive
DnaNudge	Quirónprevención	Products: DnaNudge’s CovidNudge, a PCR-based SARS-CoV-2 test and other genetic testing products Territory: Spain Exclusive

LICENSES

Licensor	Licensee	Deal Summary
JW BioScience	Immunovia	Immunovia globally licenses intellectual property rights for two biomarkers for early pancreatic cancer detection

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS

Contractor	Govt. Agency	Contract Summary
Celltrion	US Department of Defense	Up to $626 million to Celltrion’s DiaTrust subsidiary to supply Ag Rapid Test SARS-CoV-2 antigen tests to military bases and other test sites across US
Abbott	US Department of Defense	Up to $554 million for Abbott to supply SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests to military bases and other test sites across US

DX Deals: Twist Bioscience Unveils 3 New Strategic Collaborations for Synthetic Biology Discovery

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