ProBioGen in ADCC Enhancement License Deal with Big Pharma
A Big Pharma company has licensed the technology in order to develop its therapeutics programmes from the German company ProBioGen on a non-exclusive basis.
When asked, the technology provider and Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) could not divulge which company had inked the deal.
Oliver Schub, Business Development Manager at Probiogen, told Outsourcing-Pharma.com that the technology can be used on any existing cell line or production platform, a factor which encouraged the deal with the Big Pharma Company though would equally appeal to small pharma companies without their own platforms.
“Big Pharma companies have their own platforms and cell lines and thus they are reluctant to change and adapt any other platform,” he said. However, he added that “this is the only transfectable ADCC technology available,” and the unique enzyme based approach can be inputted into any starter or existing line without interference.
The technology has already been licensed to Boehringer Ingelheim who offers the platform to enhance the efficacy of antibodies produced both for its own products and by its CMO division.
GlymaxX Technology
The technology works by combining an antibody producer cell and a gene encoding an enzyme which - when integrated in the cell - interferes with its ability to produce the sugar fucose.
The less fucose present in an antibody, the greater the efficacy and potency of the cell as it enhances its Antibody-dependent cell-mediated Cytotoxicity (ADCC) effector function.
According to Schub, the GlymaxX platform inhibits fucose production by almost 99% and thus the antibodies have “greatly enhanced efficacy potency,” meaning a substantially lower dose is necessary of the finished product at a highly reduced cost.
