Lisata Therapeutics and Catalent Announce Global Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) License Agreement
Rhea-AI Summary
Lisata Therapeutics (Nasdaq: LSTA) and Catalent announced on October 8, 2025 a global, non-exclusive license allowing Catalent to incorporate Lisata’s certepetide and analogs into ADCs developed with Catalent’s SMARTag® platform.
Catalent gains worldwide rights to evaluate certepetide as SMARTag® payloads across multiple ADCs and may partner third parties. Lisata is eligible for over $10 million in tiered study-initiation milestone payments plus revenue sharing on future sales and partnerships. Catalent’s preclinical data provide proof-of-concept that iRGD peptides can improve ADC efficacy and pharmacokinetics; related preclinical work will be highlighted at the November World ADC conference in San Diego.
Positive
- Worldwide non-exclusive license granted to Catalent for certepetide
- Lisata eligible for over $10 million in tiered milestone payments
- Lisata to receive revenue sharing on future sales and partnerships
- Catalent preclinical proof-of-concept supports iRGD payload use
- Catalent may evaluate certepetide across multiple ADCs and partners
Negative
- License is non-exclusive, limiting Lisata’s exclusivity upside
- Financial upside depends on future milestones and commercial sales
- Support so far is preclinical, not clinical proof of efficacy
Insights
Non-exclusive global license lets Catalent test Lisata’s certepetide in SMARTag® ADCs; Lisata can earn >
The agreement grants Catalent worldwide, non-exclusive rights to evaluate certepetide and analogs as SMARTag® payloads across multiple ADCs, backed by Catalent’s preclinical proof-of-concept that iRGD peptides can be incorporated into its platform. Lisata retains ability to partner others and stands to receive tiered study-initiation milestones exceeding
Key dependencies and risks include the preclinical nature of the supporting data and the non-exclusive scope, which limits uniqueness of the asset’s commercial pathway; proof-of-concept in animals or early studies does not ensure clinical or regulatory success. Watch for presentation of the preclinical data at the World ADC conference in
Catalent gains global rights to evaluate certepetide and its analogs for use as SMARTag® payloads across multiple ADCs designed to address difficult-to-treat diseases
Catalent’s preclinical study results provide proof-of-concept support for leveraging certepetide-related biology through its use as an ADC payload
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: LSTA) (“Lisata” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for the treatment of advanced solid tumors and other serious diseases, and Catalent, Inc. (“Catalent”), a leader in enabling the development and supply of better treatments for patients worldwide, today announced a global product license agreement that allows Catalent to incorporate Lisata’s certepetide into antibody-drug conjugates (“ADCs”) developed using Catalent’s SMARTag® technology platform. Certepetide, a proprietary, internalizing RGD (arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid) or “iRGD” cyclic peptide, is being tested by Lisata as a cancer therapeutic to be used in combination with other anti-cancer agents to enhance tumor targeting and penetration and improve treatment outcomes.
Under the licensing agreement, Catalent gains worldwide, non-exclusive rights to develop and commercialize bioconjugate products containing certepetide and its analogs, including the ability to partner with third parties. As part of this collaboration, Catalent will have the right to evaluate certepetide and its analogs as SMARTag® payloads in clinical studies across multiple ADCs targeting difficult-to-treat diseases, with the goal of creating a new class of targeted bioconjugate therapies. Lisata is eligible to receive over
“This collaboration is based on positive preclinical results generated by Catalent’s use of an iRGD peptide as part of its SMARTag® ADC platform,” stated Kristen K. Buck, M.D., Executive Vice President of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer of Lisata. “It underscores our mutual belief in certepetide’s broad potential and is another significant step forward in Lisata’s mission to bring transformative therapies to patients. Catalent’s technology and innovative approach are a perfect complement to certepetide’s biology.” Preclinical work supporting incorporation of iRGD peptides into the SMARTag® ADC platform will be highlighted at this November’s World ADC conference in San Diego.
“We are excited about the opportunity to explore iRGD biology as it relates to ADC delivery to the tumor microenvironment. Early data suggest that incorporating iRGD peptides into ADCs improves efficacy and pharmacokinetics, leading us to be optimistic about the potential of iRGD as a novel payload class,” said Penelope Drake, Head of R&D, Bioconjugates at Catalent.
About Lisata Therapeutics
Lisata Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of advanced solid tumors and other major diseases. Lisata’s cyclic peptide product candidate, certepetide, is an investigational drug designed to activate a novel uptake pathway that allows co-administered or tethered anti-cancer drugs to selectively target and penetrate solid tumors more effectively. Lisata has already established noteworthy commercial and R&D partnerships based on its CendR Platform® technology. The Company expects to announce numerous milestones over the next 1.5 years and believes that its projected capital will fund operations through the fourth quarter of 2026, encompassing anticipated data milestones from its ongoing and planned clinical trials. For a comprehensive overview of certepetide’s mechanism of action, please view our informative short film. For more information on the Company, please visit www.lisata.com.
About Certepetide
Certepetide (formerly LSTA1), an internalizing RGD (arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid or iRGD), cyclic peptide product candidate, is an investigational drug designed to activate a novel uptake pathway that allows co-administered or tethered anti-cancer drugs to target and penetrate solid tumors more effectively. Certepetide actuates this active transport system in a tumor-specific manner, resulting in systemically co-administered anti-cancer drugs more efficiently penetrating and accumulating in the tumor. Certepetide also has been shown to modify the tumor microenvironment resulting in tumors which are more susceptible to immunotherapies. We and our collaborators have amassed significant non-clinical data demonstrating enhanced delivery of a range of emerging anti-cancer therapies, including immunotherapies and RNA-based therapeutics. To date, certepetide has also demonstrated favorable safety, tolerability, and clinical activity in completed and ongoing clinical trials designed to test its ability to enhance the effectiveness of standard-of-care chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. Lisata is exploring the potential of certepetide to enable a variety of treatment modalities to treat a range of solid tumors more effectively. Certepetide has been awarded Fast Track designation (U.S.) and Orphan Drug Designation for pancreatic cancer (U.S. and E.U.) as well as Orphan Drug Designation for glioma (U.S.) and osteosarcoma (U.S.). Additionally, certepetide has received Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for osteosarcoma (U.S.).
About Catalent
Catalent, Inc. is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) whose mission is to develop, manufacture, and supply products that help people live better and healthier lives. Catalent is dedicated to delivering unparalleled service to pharma, biotech, and consumer health customers, supporting product development, launch, and full life-cycle supply. With time-tested experience in development sciences, delivery technologies, and multi-modality manufacturing, Catalent supports the acceleration of development programs and the launch of more than a hundred new products every year. Powered by thousands of scientists and technicians and the latest technology platforms at more than 40 global sites, Catalent supplies billions of doses of life-enhancing and life-saving treatments for patients annually. For more information, visit www.catalent.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” that involve substantial risks and uncertainties for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this communication regarding the Company’s clinical development programs are forward-looking statements. In addition, when or if used in this communication, the words “may,” “could,” “should,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “predict” and similar expressions and their variants, as they relate to Lisata or its management, may identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the potential efficacy of certepetide as a treatment for patients with solid tumors; our beliefs about the potential uses and benefits of certepetide; the potential of the collaboration with Catalent to develop new treatment options; the expected expiration of our patents for certepetide; our ability to obtain patent term extension on our U.S. composition of matter patent; statements relating to Lisata’s continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market; expectations regarding the capitalization, resources and ownership structure of Lisata; the approach Lisata is taking to discover and develop novel therapeutics; the adequacy of Lisata’s capital to support its future operations and its ability to successfully initiate and complete clinical trials; and the difficulty in predicting the time and cost of development of Lisata’s product candidates. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: results observed from preliminary data are not necessarily indicative of final results and one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change following more comprehensive reviews of the data and as more patient data becomes available, including the risk that unconfirmed responses may not ultimately result in confirmed responses to treatment after follow-up evaluations; the risk that product candidates that appeared promising in early research and clinical trials do not demonstrate safety and/or efficacy in larger-scale or later clinical trials; the safety and efficacy of Lisata’s product candidates, decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof, the duration and impact of regulatory delays in Lisata’s clinical programs, Lisata’s ability to finance its operations, the likelihood and timing of the receipt of future milestone and licensing fees, the future success of Lisata’s scientific studies, Lisata’s ability to successfully develop and commercialize drug candidates, the timing for starting and completing clinical trials, rapid technological change in Lisata’s markets, the ability of Lisata to protect its intellectual property rights; and legislative, regulatory, political and economic developments. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors included in Lisata’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2025, and in other documents filed by Lisata with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by applicable law, Lisata undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Lisata Therapeutics Contact:
Investors:
Lisata Therapeutics
John Menditto
Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Phone: 908-842-0084
Email: jmenditto@lisata.com
Media:
ICR Healthcare
Elizabeth Coleman
Account Supervisor
Phone: 203-682-4783
Email: elizabeth.coleman@icrhealthcare.com
Catalent Contact:
Media Contact:
Laura Hortas
609-240-7025
media@catalent.com
FAQ
What did Lisata announce on October 8, 2025 regarding LSTA?
How much can Lisata (LSTA) receive from the Catalent license?
What rights did Catalent gain under the LSTA agreement on October 8, 2025?
Does the Lisata–Catalent deal include clinical evidence for certepetide?
Will Lisata discuss the Catalent preclinical work publicly?
