Adaptive Biotechnologies (ADPT) Partners with Pfizer for T-Cell Receptor Discovery
SEATTLE, Dec. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ADPT), a leading biotechnology firm focused on the adaptive immune system, has announced two important non-exclusive agreements with Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE). These partnerships aim to utilize Adaptive's advanced T-cell receptor (TCR) discovery technologies for targeted treatments in autoimmune diseases and other immunology applications.
Target Discovery Agreement for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Under the first agreement, Adaptive Biotechnologies will collaborate with Pfizer to identify disease-causing TCRs associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Through its proprietary platform, Adaptive will analyze Pfizer’s clinical samples to pinpoint common TCRs that are present in RA patients, potentially accelerating the development of innovative therapies.
Chad Robins, CEO and co-founder of Adaptive, commented, “Using our AI-enabled immune medicine platform, Adaptive has amassed a treasure trove of immune receptor data along with an enhanced understanding of T-cell biology.” He added that this data could pave the way for next-generation therapeutics in RA.
Licensing Agreement for TCR-Antigen Datasets
The second agreement grants Pfizer access to Adaptive's extensive TCR-antigen datasets. Adaptive claims that its collection is among the largest and highest quality available, which will aid Pfizer in developing AI and machine learning models for accelerated drug discovery across various disease areas. This comprehensive dataset will significantly enhance Pfizer's research efforts in immunology.
Financial Implications of the Agreements
The agreements stipulate that Adaptive will receive an upfront payment from Pfizer. Furthermore, Adaptive could earn potential milestone payments totaling approximately $890 million throughout the partnership, depending on the success of the research, development, and commercialization of therapies identified through these collaborations.
- Target Discovery Agreement: Adaptive to lead TCR identification for RA.
- Data Licensing Agreement: Access to large-scale TCR-antigen datasets for drug development.
- Financial Potential: Upfront payments and milestone payments potentially reaching $890 million.
About Adaptive Biotechnologies
Adaptive Biotechnologies is a commercial-stage biotechnology company dedicated to transforming patient care through advancements in the diagnostics and treatment of diseases. By leveraging the characteristics of the adaptive immune system, Adaptive aims to develop precise clinical products across its two main business segments: Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) and Immune Medicine.
The company is committed to creating immune-driven solutions tailored to each individual patient, which includes applications in oncology and autoimmune disorders.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement includes forward-looking statements based on current management beliefs and assumptions. These statements focus on Adaptive's potential achievements concerning the agreements with Pfizer, including the capability to properly identify autoreactive TCRs and the overall market acceptance of therapeutic products developed through these endeavors.
Actual outcomes may vary due to numerous factors, including potential risks and uncertainties detailed in Adaptive’s SEC filings. As a reminder, forward-looking statements are accurate only as of the date they were made, and Adaptive has no obligation to update them.