Avacta, ADC Therapeutics Enter Agreement for Development of Affimer-Drug Conjugates

Biotechnology company, Avacta Group, and clinical-stage oncology-focused biotech, ADC Therapeutics, have entered into a collaboration and option agreement focused on the development of potent Affimer-drug conjugates.

In an Oct. 10, 2019 press release, Avacta announced the multi-target agreement, which will see its Affimer technology combined with ACC Therapeutics’ pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD)-based warhead and linker technologies. Under the terms of the agreement, Avacta will be responsible for the generation and optimization of Affimer binders against three cancer targets. These binders will be supplied to ADC Therapeutics, which will then use them to target its proprietary cytotoxic warheads (PBDs) to the site of the tumor and perform pre-clinical R&D programs for evaluation purposes.

Commercially, ADC Therapeutics will be able to obtain exclusive licenses to Affimer proteins on a target-by-target basis for clinical development and commercialization. All of Avacta’s costs during the collaboration will be covered by ADC Therapeutics.

“I am delighted to have established this collaboration with ADC Therapeutics to develop drug conjugates that harness the benefits of Affimer proteins to selectively and efficiently target ADC Therapeutics’ PBD drugs to the site of the tumor,” said Alastair Smith, chief executive officer of Avacta Group, in the press release. “We are very excited about the potential of this collaboration to develop breakthrough oncology treatments, and about its considerable commercial value to Avacta. We look forward to working closely with the ADC Therapeutics team to generate new Affimer-drug conjugates and advance these promising cancer treatments into the clinic.”

Source: Avacta