Vertex Pharmaceuticals has struck a deal with AbCellera to develop new types of T-cell engagers for autoimmune diseases and, potentially, other conditions too. The Vancouver-based biotechnology company will lead discovery and early development, while Vertex will fund all research and development costs and have the right to commercialize any medicines emerging from the partnership. Several of these T-cell engagers are approved for certain blood cancers and other malignancies. One increasingly popular area among developers is autoimmune disease research, where many emerging programs are designed to eradicate defective B cells. For Vertex, the partnership provides another opportunity to branch out from a cystic fibrosis business that brings in over $10 billion in yearly sales.