AbCellera and Vertex Pharmaceuticals have struck a partnership to develop next-generation T-cell engagers for autoimmune diseases, extending a class of drugs that has largely been aimed at cancer.
Under the deal announced July 29, 2026, Vertex will pay AbCellera $28 million upfront, plus unspecified milestone payments and sales royalties. AbCellera will lead discovery and early-stage development, while Vertex funds all research-and-development costs and keeps commercialization rights.
What they are building
The companies are working on multispecific T-cell engagers — antibody drugs designed to grab hold of the body’s immune T cells and direct them against cells carrying disease-specific markers. The initial focus is autoimmune disease, with the possibility of other conditions.
Why autoimmune, why now
T-cell engagers are already FDA-approved for several blood cancers, and drugmakers are increasingly testing whether the same immune-directing approach can reset the overactive immune responses behind autoimmune disease. The area has been busy with dealmaking — UCB, for instance, acquired Candid Therapeutics for $2.2 billion in May 2026. For AbCellera, whose business is discovering antibodies for partners, the agreement adds another large collaborator funding its pipeline.