Shire has obtained exclusive worldwide licence for the development and commercialisation of US-based AB Biosciences’ pan receptor interacting molecule (PRIM) programme for potential treatment of immune-mediated conditions such as autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
The licence covers intellectual property associated with the PRIM programme, which employs AB Biosciences’ oligomeric Fc technology platform.
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PRIM is being developed as a protein therapeutic, which consists of three immunoglobulin constant regions and can link to Fc receptors resembling those of immune complexes.
The standard plasma collection from numerous individuals and safety tests for infectious agents is not required for the production of the PRIM protein.
As it lacks the bulk of monomeric immunoglobulin, PRIM is expected to be biologically active even at lower doses, allowing alternative, non-intravenous routes of administration.
AB Biosciences president and CEO Yen-Ming Hsu said: “This agreement provides the opportunity to accelerate the development of the PRIM programme and potentially benefit patients with autoimmune and inflammatory disorders that are currently treated with the traditional human IVIg preparations.
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By GlobalData“As a global biotech leader in the development and commercialisation of biologic therapeutics, Shire is the ideal development and commercialisation partner for our innovative PRIM programme, particularly given their proven developmental expertise and continuing success in their IVIg commercial franchise.”
As per the agreement, Shire will pay an upfront licence fee to AB Biosciences, which is also eligible for contingent and royalty payments based on research, development and commercialisation milestones.
Shire Research and Development head and chief scientific officer Andreas Busch said: “The novel design of this investigational antibody-derived recombinant protein therapeutic and promising biological activity demonstrated in preclinical models makes the PRIM programme an exciting opportunity for Shire to further expand its leadership and commitment to treating patients with autoimmune disorders.”
