LakePharma, a US-based biologics contract research, development, and manufacturing organization (CRDMO), will work jointly with NJ Biopharmaceuticals, a provider of chemistry and biology services, to create a streamlined antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development service.
Specifically, the agreement will see LakePharma manufacture and provide antibodies as starting materials for ADC development, which will be carried out by NJ Bio, in order to support drug developers working on such treatments.
This joint service, leveraging the capabilities of both companies in their field, is expected to create a ‘seamless workflow’ for clients, from initial antibody discovery to the production of the drug conjugates in a manner “significantly more efficient both in time and expense,” LakePharma stated.
Commenting on the partnership, Nareshkumar Jain, CEO of NJ Bio, stated that the partnership will expand and add value to the ADC services that the companies currently provide, creating cost-effective solutions through the provision of complementary service offerings.
The therapeutic potential of ADCs and their uptake from the industry has seen several companies establishing partnerships, such as AstraZeneca with Daiichi Sankyo last year, as well as investment in capabilities, such as that of Lonza – which stated that it was preparing for a ‘new wave’ of ADC therapies.