Sanofi-aventis and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (Regeneron) have entered into agreements to expand and extend their existing global collaboration to discover, develop, and commercialise fully-human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.
Both the companies entered into the agreement in November 2007 was scheduled to expire at year-end 2012. As amended, the collaboration will continue at higher levels of funding through 2017.
Reportedly, the companies aim to advance an average of four to five antibodies into clinical development each year. In addition to its VelocImmune technology, Regeneron will contribute to the collaboration its next generation technologies related to antibody generation.
Sanofi-aventis has an option to extend the discovery program for up to an additional three years for further antibody development and preclinical activities. The amendments do not change the financial terms of the November 2007 agreement governing the development and commercialisation of antibody drug candidates arising from the discovery collaboration.
So far, the companies have advanced four therapeutic antibodies into clinical development and have filed an IND for a fifth additional antibody. Among the four antibodies in clinical development, three are antibodies: Interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), being developed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Nerve Growth Factor, being developed for the treatment of pain, and Delta-like Ligand 4 (Dll4), being developed for the treatment of advanced malignancies.
Leonard Schleifer, president and CEO of Regeneron, said: “The first two years of our collaboration with Sanofi-aventis have been extremely productive, with five VelocImmune human antibodies in or entering clinical development. The expansion of our collaboration provides even greater resources over a longer time horizon and will boost our efforts to build a deep pipeline of new human antibody product candidates.
“Sanofi-aventis is an ideal partner with the expertise and global reach to collaborate with us on our mission to bring important new medicines to patients around the world.”