Reportedly, during the initial three year term of the research collaboration, Halozyme is expected to receive exclusive worldwide commercial rights from BioAtla to conditionally active biologics (CABs), that arise from the agreement.
The objectives of the program are to generate novel CABs that interact with their targets under highly specific, predefined conditions in the body. Halozyme will leverage its expertise in the extracellular matrix and experience, targeting unique tissue microenvironments to identify, generate, and develop biologics directed against both novel and existing targets.
In the research, BioAtla will apply its proprietary gene synthesis and high throughput expression screening expertise in the library generation and screening of protein analogs, with evolved specificity and activity.
Halozyme anticipates that basic research on the first compound covered by the agreement will be underway during the second half of 2010.
Gregory Frost, chief scientific officer at Halozyme, said: “This research initiative utilising BioAtla’s technology is an extension of an existing collaboration that has been successful in generating temperature controlled matrix metalloproteinase enzymes. We believe that evolving protein analogs with properties to produce more controlled and directed therapeutic activity could lead to safer and more effective medicines with fewer side effects.”