Vancouver-based AbCellera Biologics (Nasdaq: ABCL) has announced a collaboration with Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: VRTX) to discover and develop multispecific T-cell engagers (TCEs) for autoimmune diseases and other conditions, with Vertex paying USD 28 million upfront and funding all research and development costs.
Under the terms, AbCellera will deploy its proprietary TCE platform to lead discovery and early development, while Vertex holds the right to develop and commercialize resulting therapeutic multispecific antibodies. AbCellera is eligible for preclinical, development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, plus tiered royalties on net sales; specific milestone values and royalty rates were not disclosed. The deal also preserves an option for AbCellera to perform cell line development, process development, and Phase I clinical manufacturing by mutual agreement — an embedded services component not typically seen in discovery-stage platform licenses.
The structure closely mirrors AbCellera's June 2026 collaboration with Jazz Pharmaceuticals, which carried USD 56 million upfront for two programs focused on gastrointestinal cancers and solid tumors. Previously, AbCellera expanded its TCE collaboration with AbbVie for oncology, demonstrating the platform's cross-indication commercial reach. hich carried USD 56 million upfront for two programs focused on gastrointestinal cancers and solid tumors. Together, the deals show how AbCellera has licensed its TCE platform across multiple therapeutic areas without partner overlap.
Vertex is now running at least three simultaneous T-cell engager (TCE) platform collaborations in autoimmune diseases. The company partnered with Enlaza Therapeutics in September 2025 to access its War-Lock TCE and drug conjugate platform for autoimmune diseases and gene-editing conditioning, followed in February 2026 by a deal with WuXi Biologics covering a preclinical T-cell engager targeting B-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. The collaborations complement Vertex's USD 4.9 billion acquisition of Alpine Immune Sciences, which added the APRIL/BAFF inhibitor povetacicept to its autoimmune portfolio.