PRINCETON, N.J., March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- BioWa, Inc. announced today that it licensed to Genentech, Inc. its POTELLIGENT(TM) technology for use in researching and developing select Genentech antibodies for potential therapeutic applications that may include enhancement of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).
“Genentech is an unparalleled market leader in the field of antibody therapeutics,” said Dr. Nobuo Hanai, BioWa President and CEO. “We believe this is an important opportunity to aid the development of more effective targeted treatments for cancer and other life-threatening and debilitating diseases.”
Under the terms of the agreement, BioWa will provide Genentech with 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 in the event that products are developed by Genentech. Additional terms were not disclosed.
About POTELLIGENT(TM) Technology
ADCC activity is an important function of the human immune system, whereby immune cells can kill target cells, e.g. cancer cells. Several anti-cancer therapeutic antibodies that are on the market today have ADCC activity as one of their mechanisms for the killing of tumor cells. Enhancement of this activity is one promising approach in the next generation of antibody technologies.
POTELLIGENT(TM) 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(TM) technology significantly enhances ADCC activity of an antibody in vitro, thereby increasing the potential for improved activity in vivo.
About BioWa, Inc.
BioWa is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd., Japan’s leading pharmaceutical and largest biotech company, and is the exclusive worldwide licensor of POTELLIGENT(TM) technology, which creates high ADCC monoclonal antibodies. Currently, BioWa is developing ADCC enhanced monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics to fight cancer and other life- threatening and debilitating diseases and both BioWa and Kyowa have POTELLIGENT(TM) antibody products in various clinical stages. BioWa creates and develops enhanced ADCC antibodies for itself and others, offering a full range of antibody discovery and development capabilities. For more information about BioWa, visit its web site at http://www.biowa.com.
POTELLIGENT(TM) is the trademark of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. All rights are reserved.
BioWa, Inc.
CONTACT: Media: Nobuo Hanai, Ph.D., President & CEO, +1-609-580-7500, x7501; or Investors: Martina Molsbergen, Business Development, +1-609-580-7500, x 7506, both of BioWa, Inc.
Web site: http://www.biowa.com/
