US-based Adimab has entered a multi-target discovery and optimisation collaboration with French drugmaker Sanofi.
As part of the deal, Adimab will use its proprietary platform to produce molecules against multiple targets.
The agreement will provide Sanofi with the right to develop and commercialise all therapeutic antibodies and bispecifics resulting from the collaboration.
Adimab CEO and co-founder Tillman Gerngross said: "Our unique protein engineering capabilities allow us to rapidly build libraries around almost any bispecific construct.
"All leads are ‘filtered’ through Adimab’s genetically modified yeast strain leading to well-expressing and stable therapeutic leads that can readily be assessed for biological function."
Adimab will use Sanofi’s discovery and optimisation platform to identify fully human antibodies or bispecifics against multiple targets.
Under the terms of the agreement, Adimab will secure an undisclosed upfront payment, research fees and technical milestones.
Sanofi will be provided with an option to exclusively licence antibodies and bispecifics generated during the collaboration, for each target.
Adimab will receive licence fees, clinical milestones and royalties on product sales, if Sanofi exercises its option for a particular therapeutic lead.
Adimab business development vice-president Guy Van Meter said: "More and more companies are focused on bispecific approaches to go after intricate disease biology."
Earlier this year, Adimab partnered with GSK to develop a custom library, which will be used by GSK to generate bispecific antibody leads.
Adimab established discovery collaborations with around 30 firms, including Merck, Roche, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Gilead, Kyowa Hakko Kirin and Celgene.
