The deals – financial terms of which were not disclosed - will see Selecta develop cell lines for a complex recombinant vaccine protein, a bispecific antibody and so-called “naked” antibody lacking any drug element.
Development will utilize Selexis’ SUREtechnology which is used to insert genes into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and other mammalian cell lines used in biopharmaceutical production.
Robert Meister, head of Corporate Communications at Selexis SA, told us "This research will take place in Selexis’ new lab facility, formerly owned by Merck Serono, in Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland."
"Selexis cannot disclose how long the work will take, but typically Selexis produces new research cell banks in approximately 14 weeks" he added.
Selexis has similar cell development and technology access deals with ImmuNext, Laboratorios Liomont, Progenics Pharmaceuticals, ASLAN Pharmaceuticals and Pieris Pharmaceuticals.
News of the Sanofi contracts comes months after the firm told us it will begin a "major expansion" this year.