Gadeta

Gadeta, now a subsidiary of Clade Therapeutics, operates as a clinical-stage research and development firm specializing in cancer immunotherapy. The company was established in 2015 as a spin-off from the University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht. Its foundation is built upon the scientific discoveries of Professor Dr. Jürgen Kuball at UMC Utrecht, who identified the role of gamma delta (γδ) T cell receptors (TCRs) in recognizing a wide range of cancer cells. Professor Kuball, a hematologist and immunologist with experience from the University of Mainz and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, co-founded Gadeta to translate this research into viable therapies.

The company's core business revolves around its proprietary technology platform for developing cell therapies. This platform engineers T cells to express specific γδ TCRs, creating what are termed T Cells Engineered to Express a Defined Gamma Delta TCR (TEGs). The primary benefit of this approach is that γδ TCRs can recognize and target stress-induced surface molecules on cancer cells without the need for Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) presentation, a common limitation in other T-cell therapies. This allows for the potential treatment of a broad array of both hematological and solid tumors. Gadeta’s business model focuses on advancing its pipeline of TEG candidates through preclinical and clinical trials to demonstrate safety and efficacy. Its lead program, TEG001, has undergone Phase 1/2 trials for treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and multiple myeloma.

Before its acquisition, Gadeta secured funding through several rounds, including a Series A financing of €7 million in 2016 co-led by Baxalta Ventures and Medicxi. A significant milestone was a strategic collaboration with Kite, a Gilead Company, in 2018, which included R&D funding and an equity investment, giving Kite the exclusive option to acquire Gadeta. In October 2023, Clade Therapeutics acquired all outstanding shares of Gadeta, integrating Gadeta's γδ TCR discovery engine and preclinical programs. This acquisition combined Gadeta's 'Universal Targeting' capabilities with Clade's stem-cell-based 'Cell Foundry' and 'Cloaking Engine', aiming to create off-the-shelf, scalable cell medicines.

Keywords: cancer immunotherapy, T-cell therapy, gamma delta T-cell receptors, cell engineering, TEG platform, oncology, hematological malignancies, solid tumors, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical, TCR-based immunotherapy, Jürgen Kuball, Clade Therapeutics, Kite Pharma, acute myeloid leukemia, multiple myeloma, preclinical development, allogeneic cell therapy, cancer research, UMC Utrecht, TEG001