Roche and Dualitas Therapeutics, a South San Francisco, California-based bio/pharmaceutical company focused on bispecific antibody therapies for immunology and inflammation (I&I) indications, have entered an agreement to advance bispecific antibodies for I&I diseases, in a deal worth up to $1 billion ($36.5 million upfront and $1 billion in milestone payments). 

The partnership will use Dualitas’ DualScreen bispecific discovery engine. Dualitas will functionally screen over 300,000 bispecific combinations to discover and develop bispecific antibody therapeutics. Roche will be responsible for all subsequent preclinical development, regulatory, manufacturing, and commercial activities. 

Under the agreement, Dualitas will receive $36.5 million upfront payment and may receive additional research, development, and commercial milestone payments for a potential total deal value of up to $1 billion, in addition to tiered royalties. 

Source: Dualitas Therapeutics