AstraZeneca Plc (LON:AZN) has announced the successful completion of the acquisition of EsoBiotec, a biotechnology company pioneering in vivo cell therapies that has demonstrated promising early clinical activity. The EsoBiotec Engineered NanoBody Lentiviral (ENaBL) platform empowers the immune system to attack cancers and could offer many more patients access to transformative cell therapy treatments delivered in just minutes rather than the current process which takes weeks.
ENaBL uses highly targeted lentiviruses to deliver genetic instructions to specific immune cells, such as T cells, which programme them to recognise and destroy tumour cells for cancer treatment or autoreactive cells for potential use in immune-mediated diseases. This approach enables cell therapies to be administered through a simple IV injection and without the need for immune cell depletion.
As a result of this acquisition, EsoBiotec has become a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca, with operations in Belgium.
Financial considerations
AstraZeneca has acquired all outstanding equity of EsoBiotec for a total consideration of up to $1bn, on a cash and debt free basis. This includes an initial payment of $425m, and up to $575m in contingent consideration based on development and regulatory milestones.
The transaction does not impact AstraZeneca’s financial guidance for 2025.
