Adimab’s human MAb tech platform will be licensed to GSK on a non-exclusive basis, and a unique custom antibody library will be exclusive to the biopharma giant, as it looks to developing future pipeline products.
GSK spokesperson Melinda Stubbee told Biopharma-Reporter.com the firm “has decades of experience in MAbs and sees them as a significant part of the future pipeline.”
“GSK reviewed the extensive landscape of platform technologies and concluded that Adimab’s platform provided the best fit for GSK’s antibody generation requirements,” she said, attributing “Adimab’s science and the collaborative model they’ve establish” as attractive in its selection.
According to Adimab, its fully human antibody library can be screened to identify large numbers of Immunoglobulin G antibody isotopes (IgGs) – the most abundant antibody isotype found in the circulation with two antigen binding sites - specific to a particular target.
This “reduces the preclinical development timelines and failure rates associated with existing technologies,” said Adimab CEO Tillman Gerngross, allowing “companies like GSK to get important protein-based drugs into the clinic faster.”
Tech Transfer
The terms of the deal - of which financial details have not been divulged - grant GSK access to an exclusive antibody library, though the platform itself has been licensed on a non-exclusive basis.
However, whilst Adimab has partnered a number of Big Biopharmas in the last four years (including Merck, Roche, Novartis, Eli Lilly and Genentech), this is the first time the technology will be taken in-house.
Stubbee told us: “We are internalizing the platform and there will be very active collaboration between the two companies.
“Adimab has an extensive training program which is anticipated to last 2 months,”she continued, adding“additional support will be provided, particularly over the first year.”
Biogen Also Internalize
The deal was announced on the same day Adimab announced it has expanded its partnership with Biogen Idec to also transfer the technology in-house.
“We are excited to expand our relationship with Biogen Idec,” said Gerngross. “The two Business Development teams worked hard to find the right structure to allow Biogen Idec to bring the Adimab technology in house.”