WILEX subsidiary Heidelberg Pharma extends research collaboration with Roche
WILEX AG announced that WILEX subsidiary Heidelberg Pharma and Roche extended the existing 2013 licence agreement to apply the antibody drug conjugate (ADC) technology for the further development of Roche antibodies. The aim is to identify and develop novel AntibodyTargeted Amanitin Conjugates (ATACs) based on Heidelberg Pharma’s patented technology to couple α-Amanitin to antibodies.
Under the extended licence agreement, Heidelberg Pharma will receive an upfront payment and further regular payments for granting access to its technology and providing research services to Roche, which has the opportunity to exercise options for licences to develop and market selected ATACs. Heidelberg Pharma will manufacture these substances for clinical research and receive undisclosed milestone payments and royalties for each development candidate selected.
Furthermore, exclusive rights to one additional undisclosed tumour target will be granted to Roche. For this target Heidelberg Pharma could potentially receive up to EUR 52 million in upfront and milestone payments for successful clinical development and regulatory approval plus royalties.
Dr Jan Schmidt-Brand, Managing Director of Heidelberg Pharma GmbH and CEO/CFO of WILEX AG, commented: “This extension provides a number of interesting opportunities. We are pleased to extend our collaboration to include additional Roche targets and the in-house target that WILEX had previously reserved for later development. As with many of these early research collaborations, our operating costs are covered by upfront payments and fees; the full value will potentially come later in the development cycle. We work together on the same aim to ultimately benefit patients.”
α-Amanitin is a bicyclic peptide naturally occurring in the green Death Cap mushroom. It potently inhibits the biosynthesis of RNA, a mechanism that is critical for the survival of cells. Accordingly, ATACs exhibit comparable activity against proliferating and resting tumour cells. This proliferation independent activity differentiates ATACs from other ADCs, which preferentially target proliferating tumour cells. As an additional advantage ATACs could offer a substantial capability to overcome the resistance mechanisms that might limit the efficacy of other antibody drug conjugates. The ATACs tested so far have shown strong anti-tumour activity in several preclinical tumour models.
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Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous
Topic world Antibodies
Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous
