NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Oct. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), a global biopharmaceutical company, and Harpoon Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing novel T-cell recruiting biologic therapies, announced today that they have entered an immuno-oncology research collaboration. The goal of the collaboration is to incorporate Harpoon's tri-specific T-cell activating construct (TriTAC™) platform with AbbVie's research-stage immuno-oncology targets to develop novel cancer therapeutics.

Under the terms of the agreement, Harpoon will engineer TriTAC molecules directed against selected cancer targets using its proprietary platform, evaluate the molecules for pharmacologic properties, and provide AbbVie the right to pursue further development and commercialization of these molecules. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"This collaboration is the first for Harpoon and highlights the high level of industry interest in best-in-class platform technologies. We are excited about partnering with AbbVie to help generate novel T-cell engagers for the treatment of cancer based on the combination of T-cell receptors with TriTACs," said Jerry McMahon, Ph.D., chief executive officer, Harpoon Therapeutics.

"T-cell therapies represent the next wave of innovation in cancer treatment," said Tom Hudson, M.D., vice president, oncology early discovery and development, AbbVie. "Harpoon's technology offers the potential for a unique approach to engage the immune system through AbbVie's investigational therapies in development."

About Harpoon Therapeutics
Harpoon Therapeutics is an immuno-oncology company founded by Patrick Baeuerle, Ph.D., a pioneer in the development of T-cell engaging therapies, and MPM Capital. The company is focused on the discovery and development of novel T-cell engaging biologics for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Harpoon Therapeutics created a novel T-cell recruiting drug discovery platform called TriTAC™ (tri-specific T-cell activating construct) to unleash the targeted cell-killing properties of a patient's own immune system through T-cell activation. This approach is being optimized to penetrate tissues and extend serum exposure, and has the potential to address a broad range of cancers, including solid tumors, and immunologic diseases. HPN424, a prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeting TriTAC™ biologic, is in development for the treatment of prostate cancer and is expected to enter a clinical trial in 2018. For more information, please visit www.harpoontx.com.

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