Consistent with its research focus on antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and immune-mediated cancer therapies, AstraZeneca’s MedImmune unit has agreed to acquire Spirogen, a UK biotech majority owned by private equity firm Auven Therapeutics, in a deal worth up to US$440 M. With the acquisition, MedImmune will gain access to Spirogen’s pyrrolobenzodiazepine ADC platform to expand its early-stage oncology pipeline. MedImmune has also agreed to invest US$20 M in ADC Therapeutics, another Auven portfolio company, as part of a collaboration for the development of two preclinical-stage ADCs developed using Spirogen’s technology platform.