Boston-based Hopewell Therapeutics, a leader in next-generation lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology, has entered a global sublicense agreement with Foxcroft Therapeutics, the developer of novel cancer vaccines. The deal gives Foxcroft access to Hopewell’s tissue-targeting LNPs (ttLNPs) for potential use as delivery vehicles for its cancer vaccines.
Under the agreement, the two companies will collaborate to evaluate Hopewell’s ttLNPs for clinical applications. Hopewell’s platform is designed to deliver therapies to multiple organs—including lungs, brain, bone marrow, ovaries, spleen, lymph nodes, kidneys, and liver—and preclinical studies show its ttLNPs outperform existing LNP technologies.
Hopewell’s Founder and President, Dr Qiaobing Xu, has been a pioneer in the field. In February 2025, he published a paper introducing a tumor lysate-based cancer vaccine delivered via lymph-node-targeting LNPs. Foxcroft secured an exclusive global license to that vaccine technology from Tufts University in September 2025.
The current sublicense now provides Foxcroft with multiple ttLNP candidates for its vaccine program, which includes large mammal trials, starting with a canine clinical trial later this year.
The deal includes a substantial non-refundable up-front license fee, royalties on net sales, regulatory milestone payments, and up to $100 million in sales-based milestone payments.
“Hopewell is thrilled to announce the first sublicense of its ttLNP technology in the exciting field of cancer vaccines,” said Dr Xu. “We look forward to supporting Foxcroft to bring this important anti-cancer therapy to human testing as quickly as possible.”
Foxcroft’s management added, “We recognize that Hopewell’s LNP library provides superior targeted delivery solutions for a number of clinical and therapeutic applications, including our vaccine. Over the months ahead, we are excited to work further with the Hopewell team to further evaluate the sublicensed LNPs.”
