Trillium Therapeutics signs pact with Genentech

Trillium Therapeutics Inc has entered into an agreement with biotech giant Genentech Inc, San Francisco, to develop and commercialize its technology in the area of protein therapeutics. The exact nature of the technology and the terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The agreement will provide privately held Trillium with an upfront payment, research funding and milestone payments. Genentech will be solely responsible for clinical development, regulatory approvals, manufacturing and commercialization. Trillium — formerly called Transplantation Technologies Inc — was formed in 1996 by five Toronto and London-based research institutions. Its initial focus on xenotransplantation was subsequently expanded to include various areas of immunology. In 2002 it received $7.5 million in first round financing from Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund, Business Development Bank of Canada and VenGrowth Advanced Life Sciences Fund Inc. The same investors invested another $6 million in early 2004....