The agreement grants UCB non-exclusive rights to research and develop antibodies for an undisclosed number of targets. In return, BioWa will receive license fees, milestone payments and royalties on products developed by UCB. Details of financial terms were not disclosed.
“Collaborating with UCB advances the BioWa mission to significantly aid the development of more effective targeted treatments for cancer and other life-threatening and debilitating diseases,” said Dr Nobuo Hanai, BioWa's president and CEO.
Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity is an important function of the human immune system, whereby immune cells can kill target 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.
Research shows that Potelligent technology significantly enhances ADCC activity of an antibody in vitro, thereby increasing the potential for improved activity in vivo.