Pfizer and Allogene Therapeutics announced that the two companies have entered into an asset contribution agreement for Pfizer’s portfolio of assets related to allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy, an investigational immune cell therapy approach to treating cancer.

Pfizer views this agreement as an attractive opportunity to support the continued development of allogeneic CAR T therapy in a highly focused and skilled manner. Pfizer will continue to participate financially in the development of the CAR T portfolio through a 25 percent ownership stake in Allogene. Separately, Pfizer continues to have an 8 percent ownership stake in Cellectis through an equity agreement entered into in 2014. Allogene, a Two River portfolio company, was formed with Series A financing of $300 million from an investment consortium that includes TPG, Vida Ventures, BellCo Capital, the University of California Office of the Chief Investment Officer and Pfizer, among others. TPG, Vida Ventures, BellCo Capital and Pfizer will be represented on the Allogene Board of Directors. Closing is expected in the second quarter of 2018, subject to closing conditions.

"The allogeneic CAR T platform represents a potentially transformative approach to treating cancer, and we are very excited about what the future may hold for this area of research," said Robert Abraham, Senior Vice President and Group Head, Oncology Research & Development, Pfizer. "We believe that under the strong scientific, clinical development and regulatory expertise of Allogene’s leadership team, the portfolio of CAR T assets contributed by Pfizer will be well-positioned to rapidly advance into potential innovative new therapies, and ultimately to reach patients in need more quickly."

"Last year, Kite’s anti-CD19 CAR T therapy became the first autologous CAR T treatment to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for adult patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Many believed the idea was rooted in science fiction, but science fiction became a reality," said David Chang, M.D., Ph.D., Allogene President and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe that this partnership among leaders in the field – visionaries, industry forerunners, venture capitalists and researchers – has the potential to accelerate the development of allogeneic T cell therapy, making it a reality and forever changing how cancer is treated."

Centerview Partners is acting as financial advisor to Pfizer, with Ropes & Gray LLP acting as its legal advisor. Cooley LLP is serving as legal counsel to Allogene, Vida Venture and TPG. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP are also serving as legal counsel to TPG.

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