PR83865

SAN DIEGO and SAN FRANCISCO, April 30, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Trio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("TRIO"), a cancer therapeutics company developing

novel dual action antibody drugs, TRIObody(TM), and novel dual action antibody

drug conjugates, TRIObody Drug Conjugate(TM) (TDC(TM)) and Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma

Services ("Aji Bio-Pharma"), a leading provider of biopharmaceutical contract

development and manufacturing services, are pleased to announce a development

collaboration agreement to evaluate AJICAP(TM), a proprietary site-specific

conjugation technology offered by Aji Bio-Pharma for the development of TDCs.

The AJICAP technology will be used to conjugate a cytotoxic payload to TRIO's

lead oncology candidate with TRIO evaluating functionality of the TDC.

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TDCs are a first-in-class ADC with dual functionality. TRIO's dual action TDC

utilizes targeted payload delivery to stop both tumor growth and

immunosuppression. By generating a less immunosuppressive tumor

microenvironment, TDC enhances activation of tumor-specific immune effector

cells further facilitating cancer cell destruction.

AJICAP is a robust site-specific conjugation technology compatible with varied

antibody modalities. AJICAP's advantage is its "off-the-shelf" feature,

allowing any antibody drug at any stage of development to be conjugated to

drug-payloads of choice without the need to modify the sequence. In contrast to

traditional Cys-maleimide and Lys-succinimide conjugation technologies, AJICAP

conjugation is robust and generates ADCs with high yields.

"We are very excited to collaborate with Aji Bio-Pharma for evaluating AJICAP

to develop our proprietary dual action TDC. The AJICAP conjugation technology

marks a new beginning in the ADC field, allowing generation of ADCs with

site-specific conjugation without change in antibody sequence, a rate-limiting

step in the development of site-specific ADCs. Setting an early collaboration

with Aji Bio-Pharma will ease our cGMP plans for clinical development," noted

Dr. Shiva Bhowmik, Founder + CEO of Trio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Dr. Brian Mendelsohn, Director, Process Development and Technology Transfer at

Aji Bio-Pharma stated, "AJICAP was developed to create novel ADCs with

therapeutic window enhancements, while shortening the development timeline. We

are excited to collaborate with TRIO as they advance TDC technology, developing

a new class of ADCs. This collaboration marks a new avenue of development in

the ADC field."

Dr. Tatsuya Okuzumi, Associate General Manager, Business Development, Ajinomoto

Co, Inc., added, "We are very excited to collaborate with TRIO in the

development of dual action ADCs. As a member of the Ajinomoto Group, Aji

Bio-Pharma houses a talented and dedicated team of ADC scientists and strong

CMC capabilities, which will benefit TRIO's development of this novel ADC."

About Trio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Trio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (TRIO) is a privately held cancer therapeutics

company incubating at QB3, University of California San Francisco. TRIO is

developing first-in-class dual action antibody drug conjugates, TRIObody Drug

Conjugate (TDC(TM)), and dual action antibody drugs, TRIObody(TM), that stops

both tumor growth and immunosuppression with and without payload delivery,

respectively. TRIObody(TM) and TDC(TM) can synergize with current cancer drugs

to improve efficacy.

About Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services

Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services is a fully integrated contract development and

manufacturing organization with sites in Belgium, United States, Japan, and

India, providing comprehensive development, cGMP manufacturing, and aseptic

fill finish services for small and large molecule APIs and intermediates.

Ajinomoto and Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services offers a broad range of innovative

platforms and capabilities for pre-clinical and pilot programs to commercial

quantities, including Corynex(R) protein expression technology, oligonucleotide

synthesis, antibody drug conjugations (ADC), high potency APIs (HPAPI),

biocatalysis, continuous flow manufacturing and more. Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma

Services is dedicated to providing a high level of quality and service to meet

our client's needs. Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services is a member of the Ajinomoto

Group. Learn more: www.AjiBio-Pharma.com

CONTACT: TRIO Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Shiva Bhowmik, PhD, CEO,

shiva@triopharmaceuticals.com |+1 (765) 490-0874

SOURCE: Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services; Trio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.