Benzinga | Jul 19, 2021 10:28AM EDT

BioNTech Snaps Up Solid Tumor TCR Platform, Manufacturing Site From Gilead For Undisclosed Sum

* BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) is buying a cell therapy R&D platform plus a manufacturing site from Gilead Science Inc's (NASDAQ:GILD) Kite subsidiary.

* The deal gives BioNTech Kite's R&D IP for its personalized solid tumor neoantigen T cell receptor (TCR) work and the manufacturing center in Gaithersburg, MD, which supplies the clinical trial product.

* This program builds and further extends BioNTech's leadership in individualized neoantigen targeting programs such as BNT122 (iNeST) and BNT221 (NEOSTIM).

* The acquired Gaithersburg facility will provide production capacity to support clinical trials in the U.S. and complement BioNTech's existing cell therapy manufacturing facility in Germany.

* Financial terms were not disclosed.

* Kite's new manufacturing facility in Frederick, MD, for commercial production of CAR T-cell therapy is not part of the purchase agreement.

* Price Action: BNTX shares are up 0.86% at $233.46 during the market session on the last check Monday.