BioWa 和 NKTT 宣布 BioWa 用於抗體研發的 POTELLIGENT(R) 技術授權
BioWa, Inc. (BioWa) 和 NKT Therapeutics, Inc. (NKTT) 今天宣布，雙方已經簽署了一項協議，根據該協議，NKTT 將有權使用 BioWa 的專利 POTELLIGENT(R) 技術平臺，用於抗體依賴細胞介導 (ADCC) 增强型抗體開發。
該協議授予 NKTT 非獨家權利，研發、製造並商業推廣針對自然殺傷 T (NKT) 細胞的抗體，這些抗體將整合 BioWa 的技術。自然殺傷 T 細胞在人體免疫系統中很少，但卻是核心組成部分，而人體免疫系統在人類健康與疾病中發揮著至關重要的作用。作爲回報，BioWa 將獲得一筆預付款、階段性分期付款以及産品的特許使用權費。該協議的其它詳情尚未對外公布。
BioWa 總裁兼首席執行官 Masamichi Koike 博士表示：「我們很高興能與 NKT Therapeutics 這樣的小型創業資本支持企業展開合作。很大程度上，我們與 NKTT 展開合作的決定受到我們對 NKTT 細胞生物學和激動人心的産品計劃的興趣推動。之前我們就能夠實現爲 NKTT 這樣的小型公司服務的安排。」
NKTT 總裁兼首席執行官 Robert Mashal 醫學博士表示：「我們相信，這次與 BioWa, Inc. 的合作將加快我們針對自然殺傷 T 細胞的治療用抗體的開發活動，這類抗體預計將成爲滿足尚未得到滿足的醫療需求的新藥的潛在重要來源。我們很高興 BioWa 調整其正常業務關係的靈活性促成了這次合作。」
POTELLIGENT(R) 技術簡介
POTELLIGENT(R) 技術通過增强 ADCC（主要的抗體療法作用機理之一）提高抗體療法的效價與效能。POTELLIGENT(R) 技術涉及通過採用專有的缺乏岩藻糖轉移酶的 CHO 細胞系作爲生産細胞，減少抗體碳水化合物結構中岩藻糖的含量。研究表明，POTELLIGENT(R) 技術明顯增强了體外抗體的 ADCC 活性，並大大增强了體內抗體的效價和效能。目前人體臨床試驗正在對衆多 POTELLIGENT(R) 抗體進行研究。
BioWa, Inc. 簡介
BioWa 是日本領先製藥公司和最大的生物科技公司協和發酵工業株式會社 (Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.) 旗下全資子公司，也是 AccretaMab(R) 平臺的全球獨家授權商。AccretaMab(R) 平臺由 POTELLIGENT(R) 技術和 COMPLEGENT(R) 技術組成，創造了一個擁有更强 ADCC 和 CDC 活性的優質抗體分子。BioWa 目前正根據授權向合作夥伴提供 POTELLIGENT(R) 和 COMPLEGENT(R) 技術，以最大限度提升這些技術的價值。BioWa 還與協和發酵工業株式會社共同專注於 ADCC/CDC 增强型單克隆抗體療法的開發，以抗擊癌症和其它危及生命並使人體衰弱的疾病。欲知 BioWa 詳情，請登陸該公司網站 http://www.biowa.com 。
BioWa and NKTT Announce Licensing of BioWa’s POTELLIGENT(R) Technology For Use in Antibody Research and Development
BioWa, Inc. (BioWa) and NKT Therapeutics, Inc. (NKTT), announced today that they have entered into an agreement which provides NKTT with access to BioWa’s patented POTELLIGENT(R) Technology platform for the development of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) enhanced antibodies.
The agreement grants NKTT non-exclusive rights to research, develop, manufacture and commercialize antibodies targeting natural killer T (NKT) cells that incorporate BioWa technology. NKT cells are a rare but central component of the human immune system, which play a pivotal role in human health and disease. In return, BioWa will receive an upfront payment, development milestone payments and royalties on products. Other details of the agreement are not disclosed.
“We are excited that we have been able to partner with a small venture backed company like NKT Therapeutics. In large part, our decision to partner with NKTT was driven by our interest in NKTT’s cell biology and exciting product programs,” said Dr. Masamichi Koike, President and CEO of BioWa. “We were able to reach an arrangement that works for a small company like NKTT.”
“We believe that the collaboration with BioWa, Inc. will accelerate our development activities in therapeutic antibodies targeting NKT cells, a field that is expected to be a potentially important source of new medicines to satisfy unmet medical needs,” said Robert Mashal, M.D., President and CEO of NKTT. “We are pleased with BioWa’s flexibility to adapt its normal business terms to make this collaboration possible.”
About POTELLIGENT(R) Technology
POTELLIGENT(R) Technology improves potency and efficacy of antibody therapeutics, by enhancing ADCC, one of the major mechanisms of action for antibody therapeutics. POTELLIGENT(R) Technology involves the reduction of the amount of fucose in the carbohydrate structure of an antibody using a proprietary fucosyltransferase-knockout CHO cell line as a production cell. Research shows that POTELLIGENT(R) Technology dramatically enhances ADCC activity of an antibody in vitro, and significantly increases potency and efficacy of the antibody in vivo. A number of POTELLIGENT(R) antibodies are being investigated in human clinical trials.
About BioWa, Inc.
BioWa is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Japan’s leading pharmaceutical and largest biotech company, and is the exclusive worldwide licensor of AccretaMab(R) platform. AccretaMab(R) platform consists of POTELLIGENT(R) and COMPLEGENT(R) Technologies, creating a superior antibody molecule with enhanced ADCC and CDC activities. BioWa is offering POTELLIGENT(R) and COMPLEGENT(R) Technologies to partners under a license to maximize the value of these technologies. Together with Kyowa Hakko Kirin, BioWa is committed to promote ADCC/CDC enhanced monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics to fight cancer and other life-threatening and debilitating diseases. For more information about BioWa, visit its web site at http://www.biowa.com .