Roche broadens C4 Therapeutics partnership to develop DAC cancer pipeline

USA—Roche has collaborated with C4 Therapeutics to advance research into degrader-antibody conjugates (DACs), a cutting-edge therapeutic approach designed to combat cancer through an innovative mechanism.

This partnership represents a significant expansion of the two companies’ decade-long relationship in targeted protein degradation research.

Partnership details and financial terms

Under the joint research agreement, the companies will develop DACs targeting two undisclosed oncology programmes.

C4 Therapeutics will use its proprietary TORPEDO platform to design the degrader payloads, while Roche will oversee antibody selection, conjugation chemistry, preclinical testing, clinical development, and the eventual commercialisation of the resulting therapies.

The financial structure reflects the venture’s potential impact on the industry.

C4 Therapeutics will receive an upfront payment of USD 20 million, followed by discovery milestone payments.

Beyond these initial payments, the company stands to earn more than USD1 billion in regulatory and commercial milestones, coupled with tiered royalties from future product sales.

Building on established expertise

Andrew Hirsch, president and CEO of C4 Therapeutics, emphasized the interactions driving this collaboration.

He highlighted how the partnership combines C4 Therapeutics’ expertise in designing highly catalytic and selective protein degraders with Roche’s extensive background in developing antibody-drug conjugates.

According to Hirsch, this fusion of capabilities creates a powerful platform that can deliver transformative medicines to patients.

Roche’s corporate business development head, Boris Zaïtra, reinforced the strategic importance of this agreement.

He noted that Roche committed to targeted protein degradation research from the beginning, initiating its first partnership with C4 Therapeutics in 2016.

Zaïtra described the relationship as built on a decade of scientific trust and shared vision, with this third collaboration now pushing into the emerging DAC modality.

Competitive landscape in DAC technology

The broader biotech industry recognizes the potential of DAC technology, with several major players pursuing similar strategies.

In 2023, Merck & Co. paid USD 10 million to establish a partnership with C4 Therapeutics, securing exclusive rights to one DAC programme and options on three additional targets.

However, the partnership dissolved last November when Merck terminated the agreement, eliminating C4 Therapeutics’ opportunity to collect USD600 million in milestone payments.

Other pharmaceutical companies have also invested heavily in DAC development.

Bristol Myers Squibb acquired ORM-6151 from Orum Therapeutics for USD100 million in 2023, which is now designated as BMS-986497 and is currently undergoing phase 1 testing for blood cancers.

Additionally, Seagen, now owned by Pfizer, formed a USD60 million partnership with Nurix Therapeutics in 2023 to advance DAC technology, while Nurix explored applications beyond oncology, including inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Meanwhile, in February 2026, Roche achieved a significant regulatory milestone when the US Food and Drug Administration accepted its new drug application for giredestrant in combination with everolimus to treat breast cancer, highlighting the company’s continued momentum in innovative cancer therapies.