Biopharma Business

The antibody drug conjugate (ADC) development company, Glythera, has been granted exclusive, worldwide rights to Cancer Research UK’s novel CDK11 inhibitor programme for the development of multiple ADCs.

Under the terms of the agreement, Glythera and Cancer Research UK will select and optimise toxins from the inhibitor payload series for development in ADCs, which will be conjugated using Glythera’s conjugation platform, PermaLink. Multiple ADCs will then be optimised according to cancer cell-kill profiles, for difficult-to-treat tumours.

“This collaboration highlights the success of our drug discovery approach in translating the most promising early stage research into new cancer treatments,” stated Dr Hamish Ryder, director of Cancer Research UK’s Therapeutic Discovery Laboratories. “We’re excited to work with Glythera to identify and advance the very best novel agents and develop targeted treatments for cancer patients. By continuing to bring together industry and world leading academics in this field, we hope to transform the outlook for people with cancers that are the hardest to treat.”

“I am delighted that Glythera is working with Cancer Research UK as we look to identify and develop CDK11 inhibitor payloads and antibody conjugates to combat difficult-to-treat solid tumours and improve the lives of patients living with cancer,” added Dr Dave Simpson, chief executive officer, Glythera.

Cancer Research UK will receive an undisclosed up-front fee, milestone payments on programme success for each resulting ADC, and royalties on worldwide product sales. Glythera is responsible for the development, manufacturing and commercialisation of any ADC products resulting from the agreement. It is currently evaluating a range of clinically important antibody targets and intends to identify its first clinical ADC candidate by 2019.