Boehringer Ingelheim Licenses ProBioGen’s Novel GlymaxX® Technology

Boehringer Ingelheim and ProBioGen have announced that they have signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement regarding ProBioGen’s GlymaxX® technology. Boehringer Ingelheim’s Contract Manufacturing Business will apply the technology to enhance ADCC (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity) activity of antibodies.

The GlymaxX technology for production of afucosylated proteins is universally applicable, simple and potent. As a unique feature, differentiating it from other approaches, the GlymaxX technology can also be applied to already existing antibody producer cell lines without altering their productivity. The technology can easily be integrated into Boehringer Ingelheim’s high expression CHO-based BI-HEX® system. Both parties agreed to jointly market the technology and to offer it to customers royalty free.

“We are very pleased that Boehringer Ingelheim has decided to integrate our GlymaxX technology into their technology portfolio for customer and in-house projects. This is an additional milestone in our long-standing business relationship,” commented Volker Sandig, chief scientific officer of ProBioGen.

Wieland Wolf, ProBioGen’s chief executive officer, added, “The GlymaxX technology is another demonstration of ProBioGen’s core expertise, understanding animal cell biology and converting this knowledge into pioneering solutions in process development and product design.”

“With the combination of the BI-HEX platform and ProBioGen’s GlymaxX technology we can offer our customers tailored solutions for high titer expression of highly potent antibodies,” said Simon Sturge, corporate senior vice president biopharmaceuticals Boehringer Ingelheim. “This is another step to continuously invest in our technology leadership and to provide flexible solutions, addressing our customers’ needs.”