Highlights

  • Starpharma receives an upfront payment of USD 5.5 million (AUD 8.5 million) under a license agreement with Genentech.
  • Collaborative development begins on dendrimer-drug conjugate targeting oncology indications.
  • Starpharma is eligible for up to USD 564 million in milestone and tiered royalty payments.

Starpharma Holdings Limited (ASX:SPL) has received a USD 5.5 million (AUD 8.5 million) upfront payment from Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. Under the partnership, Starpharma will apply its proprietary DEP® (dendrimer enhanced product) technology to develop dendrimer-drug conjugates that combine Genentech’s compounds with selected oncology targets.
This collaboration broadens Starpharma’s use of its dendrimer platform in oncology as well as other areas of critical unmet medical need.

Agreement Structure and Development Activities

The license agreement provides an initial payment of USD 5.5 million. Beyond this, Starpharma is eligible to receive as much as USD 564 million (AUD 869 million) through development, commercial, and net sales milestone payments, in addition to tiered royalties on future worldwide sales.
Work has already commenced under the agreement, with teams focusing on the creation of dendrimer-drug conjugates using Genentech’s oncology medicines. These conjugates are intended to improve drug delivery, therapeutic performance, and patient outcomes.

DEP® Platform Technology

Starpharma’s proprietary DEP® platform enhances drug characteristics such as solubility, efficacy, pharmacokinetic control, and toxicity management. It can be applied to a wide range of drug classes, including small molecules, peptides, and proteins.
The DEP® technology also enables the development of chemotherapeutics, radiotheranostics, and antibody-drug conjugates, supporting applications across multiple therapeutic fields.

Company Overview

Starpharma is an Australian biotechnology company with more than two decades of experience in developing dendrimer-based technologies. Its portfolio spans clinical-stage DEP® programs, preclinical radiopharmaceutical initiatives, ongoing research collaborations, and three commercials over the counter (OTC) products.

Share Performance  

The company is currently trading at AUD 0.32 and up by 3.28% from its previous close of AUD 0.31.