CELL AND GENE THERAPY, INDUSTRIAL IMPACT
Biocytogen | January 05, 2023
RenNano™, a fully human heavy-chain antibody platform developed by Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., has been launched officially. RenNano™ joins RenMab™ and RenLite® as the newest member of the RenMice™ family. All three RenMice™ technologies from Biocytogen work together to speed up the search and development of entirely human monoclonal, bispecific/multispecific, and single-domain antibodies (sdAbs, or nanobodies).
Camels and sharks produce heavy-chain-only antibodies (HCAb), indicating their variable domains (VHH or sdAb) are functional without pairing with the light chain. Still, humans and mice produce antibodies that require heavy and light chain coupling to be effective. Because of their molecular weight and size, sdAbs can enter solid tumor tissues and breach the blood-brain barrier. Additionally, the sdAb's larger CDR3 region allows for detecting the otherwise concealed epitopes of GPCRs and other challenging targets.
Nanobodies offer their benefits, but it's challenging to use animals that naturally make HCAbs, like camels, in large numbers to create monoclonal antibodies due to their size, slow reproduction rate, and limited offspring supply. However, humanizing camelid antibody sequences for pharmaceutical use adds another layer of complexity and time to the drug development process.
Accordingly, Biocytogen modified the constant area of the entirely human RenMab™ model to create the RenNano™ Mouse, which is genetically modified to manufacture HCAbs. RenNano™ Mouse is one of the world's most comprehensive human antibody platforms due to the substitution of the mouse genes with the complete human heavy chain variable genes.
About Biocytogen
Biocytogen, a global biotechnology company, is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge methods for studying and creating new antibody-based pharmaceuticals. Biocytogen has streamlined the entire drug development process by integrating its drug efficacy screening platforms and clinical solid development expertise with its proprietary RenMab™, RenLite®, and RenNano™ platforms for the fully human monoclonal antibody, bispecific/multispecific antibody, and nanobody develo
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INDUSTRIAL IMPACT, MEDICAL
Synthego | March 17, 2023
Synthego Corp., a leading genome engineering solutions provider, announced today the launch of its service partner ecosystem, CRISPR Discovery Partners, designed to accelerate drug discovery by providing a seamless research workflow from CRISPR editing to phenotypic data and downstream services. The ecosystem brings together high-value partners including Arctoris, BrainXell, Curia, PhenoVista, and Pluristyx to offer a coordinated solution for CRISPR-driven drug discovery.
The CRISPR Discovery Partner ecosystem creates an integrated workflow starting with Synthego's CRISPR Engineered Cells through functional readouts, providing researchers with a faster, more efficient, and more reliable way to move their discoveries forward. Researchers can access the full range of genome engineering services through Synthego, as well as downstream services including small molecule screening, cell-based assays, high content imaging, iPSC differentiation, and multi-omics through partners. The result is a streamlined drug discovery process that can help accelerate the development of life-saving treatments.
Synthego's CRISPR Discovery Partners include
Arctoris, a tech-enabled drug discovery service company, combines wet lab automation and machine learning with a world-class team of experienced drug discovery researchers to enable the accelerated development of small molecule, biologics, and cell therapy assets.
BrainXell provides differentiation services to generate high-purity, iPSC-derived human neurons, astrocytes, and microglia for research use with a focus on drug discovery. BrainXell also offers fibroblast reprogramming and select downstream assay services.
Curia, a global contract research, development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), offers products and services from discovery through manufacturing to help customers transform R&D results into real-world impact.
PhenoVista, a San Diego-based CRO, specializes in modern, human, cell-based in vitro assay development and analysis. Internationally recognized for developing and implementing both fully bespoke projects and pre-validated Ready-2-Go assay services, this award-winning research partner leverages high-content imaging to enable life scientists to accelerate their discovery of novel therapeutics and improve global health.
Pluristyx offers expertise and tools to support and accelerate the development and commercialization of revolutionary therapeutics to treat serious human diseases by providing unique products, consulting, and contract services, including cell line expansion and banking.
About Synthego
Synthego is a genome engineering company that enables the acceleration of life science research and development in the pursuit of improved human health. The company leverages machine learning, automation, and gene editing to build platforms and products for science at scale. With its foundations in engineering disciplines, the company's platform technologies vertically integrate proprietary hardware, software, bioinformatics, chemistries, and molecular biology to advance basic research, target validation, and clinical trials. With its technologies cited in hundreds of peer-reviewed publications and utilized by thousands of commercial and academic researchers and therapeutic drug developers, Synthego is at the forefront of innovation enabling the next generation of medicines by delivering genome editing at an unprecedented scale.
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CELL AND GENE THERAPY, INDUSTRIAL IMPACT
ImmunoGen, Inc. | March 02, 2023
On March 1, 2023, ImmunoGen, Inc., a leading firm specializing in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), announced a global, multi-target license and option agreement with Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The deal provides Vertex with the rights to use ImmunoGen's ADC technology to research and discover targeted conditioning agents to be used in gene editing.
After each research period, Vertex will have the option to obtain an exclusive worldwide license to research, develop, and commercialize conditioning agents using ImmunoGen's technology for that target. ImmunoGen will hol full rights to the ADC technology for any targets not covered by the Vertex license.
Vertex will pay an upfront payment of $15 million as part of the agreement. In addition, ImmunoGen is eligible to receive up to $337 million in option exercise fees, development, and commercial milestone payments for each target. ImmunoGen will also receive tiered royalties as a percentage of worldwide commercial sales of licensed targeted conditioning agents by Vertex. Vertex will be responsible for all research, development, and commercialization costs.
ImmunoGen's Executive Vice President, Research, Development, and Medical Affairs, Michael Vasconcelles, MD, commented, "Given Vertex's extensive experience discovering and developing transformative medicines for patients with serious diseases, we are thrilled they have chosen to explore ImmunoGen's technology to develop ADCs for transplant conditioning in connection with gene editing." He further emphasized, "This agreement reflects our continued innovation in the ADC space and demonstrates the value of our technology platform and related intellectual property."
(Source – Business Wire)
About ImmunoGen, Inc.
ImmunoGen is dedicated to improving the lives of people with cancer by developing precise, targeted cancer therapies. Its lead product candidate is a first-in-class ADC called mirvetuximab soravtansine, which targets folate receptor alpha (FRα) and is being studied in multiple ovarian cancer trials. The company's second program, IMGN632, is a CD123-targeting ADC being studied for the treatment of BPDCN and AML. ImmunoGen is also developing two earlier-stage assets: IMGC936, an ADAM9-targeting ADC co-developed with MacroGenics, and IMGN151, a next-generation anti-folate receptor alpha ADC. The company aims to keep cancer from disrupting people's lives and get them back to living today, tomorrow, and beyond.
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