Starpharma Holdings (ASX:SPL) has received an upfront payment of US$5.5 million (A$8.5 million) from Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, marking the formal commencement of their recently announced license agreement focused on developing dendrimer-drug conjugates for selected oncology targets.
Under the agreement, Starpharma will apply its proprietary DEP platform technology to enhance the development of Genentech medicines, with potential benefits including improved solubility, increased efficacy, tighter pharmacokinetic control and reduced toxicity. The partnership aims to unlock new treatment opportunities and strengthen Genentech’s oncology pipeline.
In addition to the upfront payment, the agreement includes eligibility for development, commercial and net sales milestone payments of up to US$564 million (A$869 million), as well as tiered royalties on global net sales.
Starpharma’s DEP platform, which is based on dendrimer technology, is designed to improve drug performance across multiple therapeutic classes, including small molecules, peptides and proteins. Its applications extend to chemotherapeutics, radiotheranostics and antibody-drug conjugates, offering pharmaceutical partners a flexible platform to differentiate products and expand treatment indications.
The collaboration with Genentech comes as Starpharma continues to build momentum around its DEP assets, preclinical radiopharmaceutical programs and commercial over-the-counter product portfolio. The company describes the deal as a key step in extending its reach from platform innovation to clinical and commercial application in oncology.