On January 8, 2025 Araris Biotech AG ("Araris"), a Swiss oncology biotech company developing next-generation antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), reported they have entered a Research Collaboration and Option to License Agreement ("RCO") under which Araris will use its proprietary linker-conjugation platform, AraLinQTM, to generate novel ADCs using antibodies against undisclosed targets provided by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Chugai") (Press release, Araris Biotech, JAN 8, 2025, View Source [SID1234651283]).

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"We are excited to enter a collaboration with Chugai Pharmaceutical and look forward to working closely with the Chugai team and apply our ADC technology to develop next-generation ADCs with improved efficacy and tolerability," said Dr. Dragan Grabulovski, CEO and co-founder of Araris.

Dr. Philipp Spycher, CSO and co-founder of Araris added: "This second collaboration with a large pharmaceutical company is a testimony of the attractiveness of our highly differentiated ADC platform and its potential to generate innovative ADCs with excellent pharmacokinetic properties and wide therapeutic index, incorporating dual- or triple-warheads into one step on native antibodies, without any requirement of prior antibody engineering."

Under the terms of the RCO Agreement, Chugai will pay an upfront fee, fund all research activities and after exercising the option be solely responsible for the development, manufacturing and global commercialization activities. Upon achievement of certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones by Chugai after exercising the option, Araris will be eligible for potential milestone payments of approximately USD 780 million, plus royalties on net sales of products.