On February 25, 2021 Genome & Company (314130, CEO: Jisoo Pae, Hansoo Park), a global leading immuno-oncology firm, and Debiopharm, a Swiss-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in oncology and infectious diseases, reported having entered into a research collaboration for the discovery of innovative cancer therapies in the expanding antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) class (Press release, Genome & Company, FEB 25, 2021, View Source [SID1234575588]). This research collaboration has been undertaken with the goal of further exploiting this new therapeutic class, potentially offering cancer patients future treatments that efficiently target cancer cells while avoiding impact on healthy tissues.
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
The collaboration between the two companies is built on the rapidly expanding Genome & Company’s novel target-based oncology drug pipeline and Debiopharm’s proven track record in oncology. The Swiss company has developed two standards of care in colorectal cancer (oxaliplatin) and in prostate cancer (triptorelin).
Despite ongoing advances in oncology, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Standard-of-care systemic therapies, such as chemotherapy, have benefited cancer patients by killing existing malignant cells, while targeted therapies, such as ADCs, offer new ways of stopping new cancer growth by affecting the genes and proteins necessary for tumor cell survival and replication. In order to accelerate the discovery of innovative tumor-specific treatments, both specialty companies are combining their individual expertise for the development of an optimal ADC candidate based on three important criteria: the target, the cytotoxic payload, and the linker. Specifically, Genome & Company, having generated several antibodies against novel oncology targets discovered based on its own drug development platform, GNOCLE and will now be armed with Debiopharm’s Multilink technology to deliver cytotoxic payloads to tumor cells. Multilink is a unique and innovative technology in that it allows the loading of multiple and different payloads on an antibody. With Debiopharm, Genome & Company will conduct follow-up discussions on the clinical development and the licensing of newly discovered ADC candidates.
"This research collaboration has shown that the Genome & Company has a global level of research and development capability for novel target-based oncology drugs (antibodies) in addition to microbiome therapeutics." said Genome & Company CEO, Jisoo Pae. "We will try to provide novel treatments to cancer patients through active open innovation strategies for the optimal development of novel drugs in the future," he added.
"The collaboration between Genome & Company and Debiopharm is synergizing both our companies’ technology assets and know-how to generate new Antibody Drug Conjugate products. Our aim is to constantly explore different paths to bring novel treatment options to patients with unmet medical needs" said Cédric Sager, CEO of Debiopharm’s development and production facility.