LONDON (Alliance News) - Abzena PLC on Thursday said two of its partners have entered clinical development on biopharmaceutical products using Abzena technology and added it has seen progress made by its Antitope and PolyTherics subsidiaries.
The life sciences company said two antibodies developed using the Composite Human Antibody developed by Antitope have entered clinical development, bringing the total number of antibodies currently in clinical stages to eight.
The first is one developed for an undisclosed US pharmaceutical company for neurodegenerative conditions and the other has been developed for Therapure Biopharma Inc for chemotherapy-induced anaemia.
In addition to those, Gilead Sciences Inc is planning to start a phase two trial with GS-5745, which also uses Abzena antibodies, for the treatment of Crohn's disease.
Elsewhere, Antitope recently completed a Composite Human Antibody programme on behalf of University College London for the generation of a fully-humanised antibody to be developed as a potential treatment for age-related macular degeneration, which affects eyesight.
Antitope has also recently signed two further Composite Human Antibody deals with an unnamed US biotech company. Abzena said it may received milestone and/or royalty payments as products derives from the platform are progressed through clinical development and commercialised.
Elsewhere, its PolyTherics unit has made progress on the develoment of its ThioBridge technology for attaching cytotoxic drugs to antibodies to create antibody drug conjugates for the treatment of cancer. Abzena has increased the number of collaborations it has in place with companies examining the ThioBridge technology.
"Abzena's investment in the ThioBridge? technology continues to build the positioning of its offering to enable the development of a new generation of better ADC products," said Abzena Chief Executive John Burt.
"Our business model combines the delivery of research collaboration programmes for our partners that translate into products that they can carry forward into development. In this regard, I am delighted that we can report that the seventh and eighth products from the Composite Human Antibody platform are now entering clinical studies," Burt added.
Shares in Abzena were flat at 83.00 pence Thursday morning.
By Sam Unsted; samunsted@alliancenews.com; @SamUAtAlliance
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