AsiaNet 86760

DAEJEON, South Korea and CASTRES, France, Nov. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

The South Korean biotech company Y-Biologics and the French pharmaceutical

group Pierre Fabre have announced their plans to form a strategic partnership

in the field of immuno-oncology research. The decision has been acknowledged

through a letter of intent signed by both parties and will be confirmed in the

coming months through a detailed agreement. The collaboration is set to run for

three years, with the possibility of a two-year extension.  

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Y-Biologics, which specializes in the discovery of monoclonal antibodies, and

the Pierre Fabre group, France's second-largest private pharmaceutical

laboratory, plan to combine their areas of expertise with the aim of

identifying and developing novel therapeutic monoclonal antibodies targeting

key immunosuppressive mechanisms activated within solid tumors.

It has been shown that key cellular components of the tumor microenvironment

play an important role in helping the tumor thwart the body's immune response.

Cancer immunotherapies work by specifically reactivating the immune system so

that it can destroy the tumor cells. The partnership between Pierre Fabre and

Y-Biologics aims to provide patients with novel therapies based on the use of

therapeutic monoclonal antibodies that are capable of reprogramming some cell

types to stimulate and/or restore the anti-tumoral response exerted by the

immune system.

Under the terms of this agreement, Y-Biologics will contribute through its

human antibody display platforms to generate therapeutic and diagnostic

monoclonal antibodies directed against key molecular targets designated by

Pierre Fabre. For its part, Pierre Fabre will contribute its expertise in

immuno-oncology  leveraging the skills of its teams located at the Pierre Fabre

Immunology Centre (CIPF) in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois (discovery and validation

of immunosuppressive targets, targeted biotherapies) and at the Pierre Fabre

R&D Centre on the Oncopole campus in Toulouse (translational medicine,

pharmacology, toxicology, clinical development).

Young Woo Park, CEO of Y-Biologics, stated : << Utilizing Y-Biologics' human

antibody display platform, we are extremely pleased to have entered into the

joint study and optional license agreement for antibody discovery for novel

immuno-oncology targets proposed by Pierre Fabre. We take great pride in

enabling Pierre Fabre, an important stakeholder in oncology, to recognize our

antibody discovery platform and expand our technology globally. Y-Biologics

hope that the candidates we have discovered can step forward into preclinical

and clinical stage by Pierre Fabre and we are all very pleased to see that this

partnership broadens the opportunities for subsequent co-development. We look

forward to continuing our strong relationship with Pierre Fabre through this

project. >>

<< Innovation in oncology is one of our strategic priorities, therefore we are

very excited to partner with Y-Biologics in the discovery and development of

cutting-edge monoclonal antibodies. The agreement with Y-Biologics is another

testimony of Pierre Fabre´s commitment to accelerate identification of

innovative therapies for patients who are refractory or resistant to current

treatments >> added Jean-Luc Lowinski, Medical Care Business Unit CEO at Pierre

Fabre.  

Under the planned partnership, Pierre Fabre would have the option to acquire

all rights on the antibodies that will be developed under the collaboration.

These rights will be subject to payments of discovery fees, milestones and

royalties to Y-Biologics.

About Y-Biologics

Founded in 2007, Y-Biologics is a biotech company focusing on the discovery and

development of novel antibody therapeutics based on its human antibody library

"Ymax(R)-ABL" & bispecific antibody platform technology "ALiCE" (Antibody Like

Cell Engager).

Based on Ymax(R)-ABL, Y-Biologics currently has developed more than 20 antibody

candidates in various modalities. With a diversity of 10(11), Ymax(R)-ABL has

highly competitive quality and quantity leading to higher singularity and

probability of findings from the proprietary library.

Following early work in discovery, the novel bispecific platform technology

ALiCE, allows effective redirection of T cells onto tumor cells and thereby

specifically kill the tumor cells giving very potent and long-lasting efficacy

in the treatment of cancer patients. ALiCE has overcome the major drawbacks of

currently available technologies such as excessive toxicity and low

developability. Therefore, it has strong potential to further address those

unmet needs in fields of immuno-oncology.

While focused on research initially, Y-Biologics recently started conducting

joint development and investment through strategic alliances and providing

various collaboration opportunities for global partnering.

For more information: http://ybiologics.com/eng/main/

About Pierre Fabre

Pierre Fabre is the second largest dermo-cosmetics laboratory in the world, the

second largest private French pharmaceutical group, and the market leader in

France for products sold over the counter in pharmacies. Its portfolio includes

several global brands and franchises, including Eau Thermale Avene, Klorane,

Ducray, Rene Furterer, A-Derma, Galenic, Elancyl, Naturactive, Pierre Fabre

Health Care, Pierre Fabre Oral Care, Pierre Fabre Dermatologie and Pierre Fabre

Oncologie.

In 2019, Pierre Fabre generated 2.4 billion euros in revenues, of which

two-thirds originated from its international business.

Pierre Fabre, which has always been headquartered in the South-West of France,

employs approximately 10,500 people worldwide, owns subsidiaries and offices in

45 countries and enjoys distribution agreements in over 130 countries.

Pierre Fabre is 86%-owned by the Pierre Fabre Foundation, a

government-recognized public-interest foundation, and secondarily by its own

employees through an international employee stock ownership plan.

In 2019, Ecocert Environment assessed the Group's corporate social and

environmental responsibility approach according to the ISO 26000 standard on

sustainable development and awarded it the ECOCERT 26000 "Excellence" level.

For more information : www.pierre-fabre.com

@PierreFabre

About CIPF (Center of Immunology Pierre Fabre)

A center of excellence in the area of biotechnologies, the Center of Immunology

Pierre Fabre (CIPF) develops research programs in the area of cancer

immunotherapy, with a focus on monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic purposes.

The departments of Research and Industrial Biotechnology pool their specific

expertise and know-how to identify antibodies, define their therapeutic

properties and produce them on the industrial scale.

Contact: Pierre Fabre:

         Anne Kerveillant, Communication - anne.kerveillant@pierre-fabre.com;

         Y Biologics:

         Dong-Ock Chang, dochang@ybiologics.com  

SOURCE:  Pierre Fabre and Y-Biologics