Company Announcement
- Research collaboration with an undisclosed large Biotechnology company for DuoBody ® and HexaBody™ technology platforms
- Genmab’s first HexaBody collaboration
Copenhagen, Denmark; June 4, 2014 – Genmab A/S (OMX: GEN), together with its subsidiary, Genmab B.V., announced today a research collaboration with an undisclosed Biotechnology company which would use and evaluate Genmab’s proprietary antibody technologies, the DuoBody and HexaBody platforms.
“We are enthusiastic to enter our first research collaboration for the HexaBody technology which was unveiled just over a year ago. This exciting technology has the potential to enhance antibody efficacy in a fundamentally new way. We are also very pleased to enter another DuoBody platform collaboration and we look forward to exploring the therapeutic potential of products incorporating the HexaBody and DuoBody technologies with this major Biotechnology company,” said Jan van de Winkel, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab.
The financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. This agreement will not have a material impact on Genmab’s financial results and cash position.
About the DuoBody Platform The DuoBody platform is an innovative platform for the discovery and development of bispecific antibodies that may improve antibody therapy of cancer, autoimmune, infectious and central nervous system disease. Bispecific antibodies bind to two different epitopes either on the same, or on different targets (also known as dual-targeting) which may improve the antibodies' specificity and efficacy in inactivating the disease targets. DuoBody molecules are unique in combining the benefits of bispecificity with the strengths of conventional antibodies which allows DuoBody molecules to be administered and dosed as other antibody therapeutics. Genmab's DuoBody platform generates bispecific antibodies via a fast and broadly applicable process which is easily performed at standard bench, as well as commercial, manufacturing scale.
About HexaBody technology HexaBody technology, a broadly applicable antibody platform from Genmab, allows for the creation of potent therapeutics by inducing antibody hexamer formation (clusters of six antibodies). The HexaBody platform builds on natural antibody biology and enhances complement-mediated killing (complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC)), allowing antibodies with limited or absent CDC to be transformed into potent cytotoxic antibodies. The HexaBody technology creates opportunities to explore new product candidates, to repurpose drug candidates unsuccessful in previous clinical trials due to insufficient potency and may provide a useful strategy in product life cycle extension. The HexaBody technology can be directed to any antigen or target, including those implicated in cancer and infectious diseases. The HexaBody technology can be combined with Genmab's DuoBody platform as well as other antibody technologies.
About Genmab A/S Genmab is a publicly traded, international biotechnology company specializing in the creation and development of differentiated human antibody therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Founded in 1999, the company currently has one marketed antibody, Arzerra ® (ofatumumab) for the treatment of certain chronic lymphocytic leukemia indications, a clinical pipeline with both late and early stage programs, and an innovative preclinical pipeline. Genmab's technology base consists of validated and proprietary next generation antibody technologies - the DuoBody platform for generation of bispecific antibodies, and the HexaBody platform which creates effector function enhanced antibodies. Genmab's deep antibody expertise is expected to provide a stream of future product candidates. Partnering of selected innovative product candidates and technologies is a key focus of Genmab’s strategy and the company has alliances with top tier pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. For more information visit www.genmab.com
Contact: Rachel Curtis Gravesen, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications T: +45 33 44 77 20; M: +45 25 12 62 60; E: r.gravesen@genmab.com This Company Announcement contains forward looking statements. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend” and “plan” and similar expressions identify forward looking statements. Actual results or performance may differ materially from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such statements. The important factors that could cause our actual results or performance to differ materially include, among others, risks associated with pre-clinical and clinical development of products, uncertainties related to the outcome and conduct of clinical trials including unforeseen safety issues, uncertainties related to product manufacturing, the lack of market acceptance of our products, our inability to manage growth, the competitive environment in relation to our business area and markets, our inability to attract and retain suitably qualified personnel, the unenforceability or lack of protection of our patents and proprietary rights, our relationships with affiliated entities, changes and developments in technology which may render our products obsolete, and other factors. For a further discussion of these risks, please refer to the risk management sections in Genmab’s most recent financial reports, which are available on www.genmab.com . Genmab does not undertake any obligation to update or revise forward looking statements in this Company Announcement nor to confirm such statements in relation to actual results, unless required by law. Genmab A/S and its subsidiaries own the following trademarks: Genmab ® ; the Y-shaped Genmab logo ® ; Genmab in combination with the Y-shaped Genmab logo TM ; the DuoBody logo™; HuMax ® ; HuMax-CD20 ® ; DuoBody ® , HexaBody TM and UniBody ® . Arzerra ® is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline.
Company Announcement no. 30 CVR no. 2102 3884
Genmab A/S Bredgade 34E 1260 Copenhagen K Denmark
