ProBioGen's GlymaxX(R) ADCC Enhancement Technology Used by Betta Pharmaceuticals

PR76936

BERLIN, January 3, 2019 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Bispecific Antibody for Cancer Treatment Optimized by GlymaxX(R) Technology

ProBioGen AG, a premier service & technology provider for complex therapeutic

antibodies and glycoproteins, announced today that the company achieved an

undisclosed milestone payment from Merus N.V. (Nasdaq: MRUS) based on Merus'

grant of an exclusive license to Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province based Betta

Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd to develop and commercialize in China Merus' novel

MCLA-129, Biclonics(R) bispecific antibody for the potential treatment of

cancer, which utilizes ProBioGen's GlymaxX(R) antibody-dependent cell-mediated

cytotoxicity (ADCC)-enhancing technology for greater cell-killing potential.

     (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/803805/ProBioGen_AG_Logo.jpg )

     (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/803804/Glymaxx_Logo.jpg )

Merus' use of the GlymaxX(R) ADCC enhancement technology in MCLA-129 is the

result of an agreement executed between ProBioGen and Merus in 2016. Under the

terms of that agreement, Merus obtained non-exclusive rights to use the

GlymaxX(R) technology for Merus' Bioclonics(R) pipeline of bispecific

antibodies designed to treat various forms of cancer to enhance their ADCC

activity. MCLA-129 is the third commercial GlymaxX(R) license activated by

Merus after MCLA128 anti-Her2/Her3 and MCLA-158 anti-EGFRxLGR5 bispecific

antibodies.  

GlymaxX(R) is a stable modification, applicable to any producer cell, leading

it to produce antibodies without fucose in the sugar chain. Such

GlymaxX(R)-modified, afucosylated antibodies recruit and activate immune

effector cells much more effectively, possess a much higher tumor cell killing

activity and potentially require lower doses.

ProBioGen offers access to GlymaxX(R) royalty-free as part of cell line

development service projects or as standalone technology licenses.

About Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity (ADCC)

ADCC (Antibody-Dependent Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity) activity is an important

antibody function, leading to the selectively killing of target cells, i.e.

cancerous cells or pathogen-infected cells. Several therapeutic antibody drugs

on the market rely on ADCC as mechanism of action. ADCC enhancement has the

potential to increase the therapeutic effect and/or to greatly reduce antibody

dosage requirements, resulting in fewer side-effects and treatment costs.

About GlymaxX(R) - www.GlymaxX.de

The GlymaxX(R) technology, developed by ProBioGen, prevents the synthesis of

the sugar "fucose" and hence, in antibody-producing cells, its addition to the

N-linked antibody carbohydrate part. The absence of fucose is known to greatly

enhance ADCC. The GlymaxX(R) technology is based on the stable introduction of

a gene for an enzyme which literally eliminates the producer cells' fucose

biosynthesis pathway. As a unique feature, differentiating it from other

approaches, GlymaxX(R) can be applied to both novel and already existing

antibody producer cell lines and entire antibody expression and discovery

platforms, without negatively affecting their productivity or product

characteristics. Moreover, it is simple, rapid, potent, and universally

applicable to different CHO hosts and all other eukaryotic cell species.

GlymaxX(R) can be rapidly applied in a few weeks to any existing antibody

producer cell line, can be used in the context of ProBioGen's pre-engineered

GlymaxX(R) host cells, or can be introduced into entire animal cell expression

platforms by modifying the host cell line.

ProBioGen offers its GlymaxX(R) technology royalty-free as service or as

individual license.

About ProBioGen - www.probiogen.de

ProBioGen is a specialist for the development and manufacturing of complex

therapeutic glyco-proteins. Combining both state-of-the-art development

platforms together with intelligent product-specific technologies yields

biologics with optimized properties.

Rapid and integrated cell line and process development, comprehensive

analytical development and following reliable GMP manufacturing is performed by

a highly skilled and experienced team. All services and technologies are

embedded in a total quality management system to assure compliance with

international ISO and GMP standards (EMA/FDA).

ProBioGen is operational since more than 20 years and is located in Berlin,

Germany.

Contact ProBioGen AG:

Dr Gabriele Schneider

Chief Business Officer

ProBioGen AG

Goethestr. 54

13086 Berlin, Germany

Phone: +49(0)30-924-006-0

Email: glymaxx@probiogen.de

Website: www.glymaxx.de

SOURCE: ProBioGen AG