On February 13, 2017 Novimmune and LegoChem Biosciences reported that they have entered into a research collaboration to evaluate an antibody drug conjugate candidate (Press release, LegoChem Biosciences, FEB 13, 2017, View Source;sc_seq=373 [SID1234617970]).

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Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but shares of LegoChem were down 3.8% at 27,950 South Korean won by late afternoon trading.

LegoChem has been successfully developing global partnerships through the potential of its proprietary ADC platform technology. In 2015, LegoChem out-licensed an anti-Her2-ADC molecule to Fosun Pharma. In October 2016 it signed a deal with Norway’s Nordic Nanovector (OSE: NANO) to develop novel CD37-targeting antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of leukemias, and in January this year, signed a research licensing deal with Japan’s largest drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4502), to evaluate next-generation ADC candidates.

"Our antibody expertise married with LCB’s proprietary ADC technology, supports our quest to provide better options to cancer patients," said Novimmune chairman and chief executive, Eduard Holdener.

ADCs are molecules composed of a tumor specific monoclonal antibody linked to a cytotoxic agent. Unlike chemotherapy, they are intended to target only cancer cells and spare healthy cells. Novimmune brings expertise in the field of targeted therapies with their anti-CD47/anti-CD19 and anti-CD47/anti-mesothelin bispecific antibodies that selectively bind to hematological and solid tumors, respectively.