Avacta, Glythera collaborate to develop alternatives to antibody drug conjugates

The collaboration will assess the use of Avacta’s Affimer technology in combination with Glythera’s PermaLink conjugation chemistry.

The companies will develop materials and methods to be leveraged in generating Affimer-drug conjugates.

The conjugates will be evaluated in a proof of concept study designed to identify the technical and commercial benefits of the combination over traditional antibody and linker approaches.

Avacta said the combined potential benefits of the collaboration could create a new leading antibody drug conjugate, with several benefits over existing products.

Both the companies will collaborate to provide Affimer-drug conjugate development services, and licensing of the combined platform, to pharmaceutical developers.

The companies believe Avacta’s Affimer technology provides the ability to closely control the position and number of toxins in the payload, has the benefit of much shorter development times and offers the flexibility to design in the required pharmacokinetics.

Lower cost production is also expected by the companies, while the small size of the Affimer molecule is likely to enhance tumor penetration compared with antibodies which are 10 times larger in size.

Avacta CEO Alastair Smith said: “We are therefore confident that this partnership with Glythera will further demonstrate the utility of the Affimer platform as a powerful approach to generating a broad range of biotherapeutics, creating opportunities for third party licensing of the platform with the potential to generate long-term value for both companies.”

Glythera CEO Dave Simpson said: “Combining Glythera’s PermaLink conjugation chemistry with Avacta’s Affimer technology will demonstrate the benefits of PermaLink across a new targeting molecule class, opening additional avenues for bringing novel therapeutic assets to market.”