PRINCETON, N.J., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- BioWa, Inc., announced today that it licensed to GlaxoSmithKline its POTELLIGENT(R) Technology for use in developing and commercializing select GSK antibodies with enhancement of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).
“GSK is recognized as a key player in the field of antibody drug discovery,” said Dr. Masamichi Koike, BioWa President and CEO. “We believe this represents an important opportunity to promote the development of more effective targeted treatments for debilitating diseases where enhanced ADCC might offer a significant therapeutic benefit.”
Under the terms of the agreement, BioWa will provide GSK with non- exclusive commercial rights to use the technology for multiple antibodies. In return, BioWa will receive technology access fees, and may receive milestone payments and royalties from resulting products which are developed by GSK. Additional terms were not disclosed.
About POTELLIGENT(R) Technology
POTELLIGENT(R) Technology improves potency and efficacy of antibody therapeutics, by enhancing ADCC, one of the major mechanisms of action for antibody therapeutics. POTELLIGENT(R) Technology involves the reduction of the amount of fucose in the carbohydrate structure of an antibody using a proprietary fucosyltransferase-knockout CHO cell line as a production cell. Research shows that POTELLIGENT(R) Technology dramatically enhances ADCC activity of an antibody in vitro, and significantly increases potency and efficacy of the antibody in vivo. A number of POTELLIGENT(R) antibodies are being investigated in human clinical trials.
About BioWa, Inc.
BioWa is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Japan’s leading pharmaceutical and largest biotech company, and is the exclusive worldwide licensor of AccretaMab(TM) platform. AccretaMab(TM) platform consists of POTELLIGENT(R) and COMPLEGENT(TM) Technologies, creating a superior antibody molecule with enhanced ADCC and CDC activities. BioWa is offering POTELLIGENT(R) and COMPLEGENT(TM) Technologies to partners under a license to maximize the value of these technologies. Together with Kyowa Hakko Kirin, BioWa is focused on development of ADCC/CDC enhanced monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics to fight cancer and other life-threatening and debilitating diseases. For more information about BioWa, visit its web site at http://www.biowa.com.
POTELLIGENT(R), COMPLEGENT(TM), and AccretaMab(TM) are the trademarks of Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. All rights are reserved.
CONTACT: Masamichi Koike, Ph.D., President and CEO of BioWa, Inc.,
+1-609-734-3420
Web site: http://www.biowa.com/
