November 19, 2020 -- Cue Biopharma has extended the terms of its research collaboration and license agreement with Merck toward developing new clinical candidates for the treatment of type 1 diabetes and an additional undisclosed autoimmune disease. The research will focus on in vivo Immuno-selective targeting and alteration of T cell (STAT) biologics that are designed for targeted modulation of disease-associated T cells in immune-oncology and autoimmune diseases.
Each biologic of Cue Biopharma's proprietary scaffold contains a peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) to provide selectivity through interaction with T-cell receptors, and a unique costimulatory signaling molecule to modulate the activity of target T cells. The combination mimics signals delivered by antigen presenting cells to T cells during a natural immune response. This results in highly targeted T-cell modulation.
Under the terms of the extension, Cue Biopharma will receive additional financial research support to further study and develop promising preclinical biologics. The companies entered the initial agreement in November 2017 to develop biologics for the treatment of selected autoimmune diseases.
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