Advertise With UsAdvertise on our extensive network of industry websites and newsletters.
Get the PBR newsletterSign up to our free email to get all the latest PBR
news.Genentech has acquired a license to BioWa's Potelligent technology for use in researching and developing select antibodies for the potential treatment of cancer and other life-threatening and debilitating diseases.
Subscribe to our email newsletter
Under the terms of the agreement, BioWa will provide Genentech with exclusive commercial rights to use the technology for multiple antibodies.
In return, BioWa will receive technology access fees, and may receive milestone payments and royalties in the event that products are developed by Genentech. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Potelligent technology has been shown to significantly enhance antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity of an antibody in vitro, thereby increasing the potential for improved activity in vivo.
ADCC activity is an important function of the human immune system, whereby immune cells can kill target cells, for example cancer cells. Several anticancer therapeutic antibodies that are on the market today have ADCC activity as one of their mechanisms for the killing of tumor cells. Enhancement of this activity is one promising approach in the next generation of antibody technologies.
“Genentech is an unparalleled market leader in the field of antibody therapeutics,” said Dr Nobuo Hanai, BioWa president and CEO. “We believe this is an important opportunity to aid the development of more effective targeted treatments.”