Posted: 25 September 2025
Starpharma announced a landmark global licensing agreement with Genentech, a Roche Group company, to advance cancer treatments using its proprietary DEP® drug delivery platform.
The collaboration provided Starpharma with an upfront payment of USD $5.5 million (AUD $8.3 million) and the potential for up to USD $564 million (AUD $855 million) in milestone payments, alongside tiered royalties on worldwide sales.
Chief Executive Officer Cheryl Maley said the arrangement reflected years of collaborative research. “This agreement recognises the potential of our dendrimer technology to transform drug development and builds on three years of collaborative research with Genentech. With their world-class expertise and our proprietary DEP® platform, we are well positioned to deliver meaningful outcomes for patients,” she stated.
The deal granted Genentech exclusive rights to develop and commercialise multiple oncology programs leveraging the DEP technology, which improves drug solubility, efficacy, and safety. The platform is applicable across small molecules, peptides, proteins, chemotherapies, radiotheranostics, and antibody-drug conjugates, enabling lifecycle extension and new therapeutic opportunities.
Boris L. Zaïtra, Head of Roche Corporate Business Development, commented that the partnership reaffirmed Roche’s focus on cancer care. “For more than 60 years, we have been developing innovative cancer medicines, and our dedication to transforming cancer care remains unwavering. We’re committed to turning science into life-changing breakthroughs for patients,” he said.
Starpharma described the agreement as a pivotal milestone in its strategy to forge high-impact partnerships and accelerate the delivery of novel therapies to patients globally.
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