Boston Immune Technologies and Therapeutics, Inc. (BITT), a clinical stage developer of novel tumor necrosis factor superfamily receptor (TNFSR) antagonist antibodies, announced  a sponsored research and exclusivity agreement with the McQuade Center for Strategic Research and Development, LLC (MSRD), a member of the global Otsuka family of pharmaceutical companies. MSRD will finance key non-human primate studies for the pre-clinical development of BITT’s CD40 antagonist in exchange for an exclusive right to negotiate an acquisition, license or collaboration agreement related to the asset. BITT is also announcing that it has also been awarded a $4M National Institute of Health/National Cancer Institute to support the ongoing Phase I clinical trial of BITT’s lead TNFR2 antagonist.

“Our agreement with Otsuka will provide significant resources in furtherance of our goal of filing an IND related to our CD40 antagonist program in 2025,” said Russell LaMontagne, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BITT. “This is our second NIH/NCI grant to support our TNFR2 oncology program and confirmation of the novelty of our antibody and the potential of TNFR2 as a therapeutic target.”