The deal – which completed in December – has added Eleven’s recombinant albumin technologies to Albumedix offering, which includes the half-life boosting Veltis system – previously known as Recombumin Flex – the is licensed by UK drugmaker GSK.
Eleven’s technology – known as Supermin - was created using its protein engineering system – AMP-Rx – which the firm claims speeds up the development process.
Albumedix paid Eleven an upfront fee and will pay commercialization royalties
Peter Rosholm, Albumedix CEO, said: “The acquisition of Eleven's exciting albumin platform, which will be incorporated within our proven Veltis technology portfolio, will strengthen our existing offering.”
Albumin plan
Novozymes launched Albumedix this month explaining that the wholly-owned subsidiary will make proteins used to stabilize and extend the half-lives of drugs and vaccines.
In addition to GSK, Albumedix customers include US drugmaker Merck & Co which has used its technologies in vaccines since 2006 and Serendex Pharmaceutical, which recently began a Phase I trial of a lung disease treatment that is stabilized with Recombumin.
However, the Danish firm also plans to develop its drugs according to Rosholm.
He told Biophamra-reporter.com that: “Albumedix’s strategy is to develop a small pipeline of drugs that uses our technologies to maximise return on our investment.”
Rosholm did not disclose any specific targets but did say the products are likely to be biobetters.
Biobetters are tweaked versions of existing biopharmaceuticals that improve on the original by having, for example, longer half-lives that allow for reduced dosing.