● Starpharma will employ its proprietary DEP® platform technology to develop dendrimerdrug conjugates that incorporate Genentech medicines for certain oncology targets.
● Starpharma will commence development activities immediately and work exclusively with Genentech in relation to those targets.
● Starpharma will receive an upfront payment of USD $5.5 million (~AUD $8.3 million), and is eligible for development, commercial and net sales milestones up to USD $564 million (~AUD $855 million), as well as tiered royalties on global net sales.
Melbourne, Australia; 22 September 2025: Starpharma (ASX: SPL, US OTC: SPHRY), an innovative biotechnology company with two decades of experience in advancing dendrimer technology from the lab to the patient, today announces the signing of a collaboration and license agreement with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, to develop potential cancer therapies that leverage Starpharma’s proprietary DEP® drug delivery technology.
“We are excited to enter into this agreement, which recognises Starpharma’s dendrimer technology and its potential to benefit novel drug development. It also reflects the diligent work undertaken during the past three years by Starpharma and Genentech of our previous collaborative research focused on innovating and developing cancer therapies utilising Starpharma’s proprietary dendrimer technology platform, DEP®,” said Cheryl Maley, CEO of Starpharma. “Genentech’s world-class scientific expertise makes them an ideal collaborator, and we look forward to working together to improve patient outcomes and realise the advantages presented by Starpharma’s DEP® technology platform.”
Terms of the Agreement
● Starpharma will receive an upfront payment of USD $5.5 million (~AUD $8.3 million) and is eligible to receive up to USD $564 million (~AUD $855 million) in success-based development, regulatory, and commercial milestones. In addition to this amount, Starpharma is eligible for tiered royalties on global net sales of products resulting from the collaboration.
● All contracted financial terms are denominated in US dollars.
● Starpharma will employ its proprietary DEP® platform technology to generate dendrimerdrug conjugates that incorporate Genentech medicines directed to selected oncology targets.
● Starpharma will not be permitted to generate products directed to these selected oncology targets for itself or third parties.
● Starpharma has granted Genentech an exclusive worldwide license under Starpharma’s IP to commercialize products resulting from the parties’ collaboration.
● Genentech will be responsible for all development and commercialization of products resulting from the collaboration, which could include multiple products for each target.
“Building on three years of collaborative research, we are confident the shared commitment and strengths of both teams will enable effective execution, with the overarching goal of delivering meaningful outcomes for patients,” said Cheryl Maley.
“For more than 60 years, we have been developing innovative oncology medicines, and our dedication to transforming cancer care remains unwavering," said Boris L. Zaïtra, Head of Roche Corporate Business Development. "We're committed to turning science into life-changing breakthroughs for patients.”
Cheryl Maley added, “A key strategic priority for Starpharma is to build new, high-impact partnerships that unlock the full potential of our DEP® platform. By actively pursuing licensing opportunities and collaborating with leading organisations, we aim to expand market reach and enable our partners to deliver significantly improved therapies to patients worldwide.”
Starpharma’s DEP® platform technology offers significant benefits in drug development, including improved solubility, increased efficacy, pharmacokinetic control, and improved toxicity profiles. These advantages can be applied to a wide range of drug classes, such as small molecules, peptides, and proteins, as well as to the development of chemotherapeutics, radiotheranostics, and antibody-drug conjugates. These benefits provide companies with opportunities to enhance product attributes by differentiating their portfolios and unlocking additional treatment indications.
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About us:
About Starpharma
Starpharma (ASX: SPL, US OTC: SPHRY) is an innovative biotechnology company with two decades of experience in advancing dendrimer technology from the lab to the patient. Our mission is to help patients with significant illnesses, such as cancer, achieve improved health outcomes and quality of life through the application of our unique dendrimer technology.
Dendrimers are precise, synthetically manufactured, nanoscale molecules. Their unique properties—including their size, structure, high degree of branching, polyvalency, and water solubility—are advantageous in medical and pharmaceutical applications.
Starpharma’s portfolio of dendrimer-based products includes clinical-stage DEP® (dendrimer enhanced product) assets, preclinical radiopharmaceutical assets, research collaborations, and three commercially marketed over-thecounter (OTC) products.
For more information about Starpharma, visit www.starpharma.com or connect with Starpharma on LinkedIn.
Contact details:
WE Communications
Hannah Howlett
+61 450 648 064
[email protected]