AstraZeneca picks first Treg candidate from Quell IBD joint program

Quell Therapeutics announced that AstraZeneca has selected a lead engineered T-regulatory (Treg) cell therapy candidate to progress from the inflammatory bowel disease joint research program for further development and commercialization.

The achievement of this second significant research milestone in the Quell-AstraZeneca strategic alliance triggers payment of $10 million from AstraZeneca.

AstraZeneca will now progress further CTA/IND-enabling studies and clinical development of the selected candidate, with Quell providing CMC support including GMP supply of drug product for a first-in-human trial.

The payout marks the second milestone achieved by Quell under its 2023 collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca to develop, manufacture and commercialize autologous, engineered Treg cell therapies for two immune-mediated disease indications — IBD and type 1 diabetes. The first milestone payment was triggered in November 2024 following the selection of a lead Treg cell therapy candidate in the T1D program.

Quell received $85 million upfront from AstraZeneca when the deal was inked in 2023, which was comprised of a cash payment and an equity investment. The deal left Quell eligible to receive over $2 billion for further development and commercialization milestones, plus tiered royalties. In addition, Quell retains an option, which can be exercised either after approval of an IND or at the end of the phase 1/2 clinical study, to co-develop Treg cell therapies from the T1D program with AstraZeneca in the U.S. in exchange for additional milestone payments and increased royalties on U.S. net sales.