Date: 2017-06-12
Type of information: Milestone
Compound: bispecific therapeutic candidates toward Lilly’s therapeutic targets using Azymetric™ platform
Company: Zymeworks (Canada) Eli Lilly (USA - IN)
Therapeutic area: Cancer - Oncology
Type agreement: R&D - licensing
Action mechanism:
- bispecific antibody. Bi-specific antibodies have the potential to provide improved outcomes for patients by simultaneously targeting two tumor-associated antigens to induce a synergistic therapeutic response. The Azymetric™ platform consists of a library of proprietary amino acid substitutions that enable the transformation of monospecific antibodies into bispecific antibodies. Azymetric™ bispecific technology enables the development of biotherapeutics with dual-targeting of receptors/ligands and simultaneous blockade of multiple signaling pathways, increasing tumor?specific targeting and efficacy while reducing toxicities and the potential for drug-resistance. Additionally, the dual-targeting of Azymetric™ antibodies has demonstrated synergistic efficacy in preclinical studies through simultaneous binding relative to the application of an equivalent dose of the corresponding monospecific antibodies. Azymetric™ bispecifics can also be engineered to enhance internalization of the antibody into the tumor cell and consequently increase the delivery of cytotoxic payloads.
Disease: undisclosed
Details:
- • On January 9, 2014, Zymeworks has entered into a licensing and collaboration agreement with ImClone Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly. Under the terms of the agreement, Zymeworks has granted Lilly and its subsidiaries, a worldwide license to the Azymetric™ platform to develop and commercialize an undisclosed number of bi-specific therapeutic candidates toward Lilly’s therapeutic targets. This collaboration complements Lilly’s bi-specifics program aimed at speeding the delivery of novel medicines to cancer patients with unmet needs.
Financial terms:
- Zymeworks will receive an upfront fee and research support and is eligible to receive research, development, and commercial milestone as well as tiered royalty payments on future product sales. Lilly will have exclusive worldwide commercialization rights to the antibodies derived from the collaboration.
Latest news:
- • On June 12, 2017, Zymeworks announced that two bispecific immuno-oncology drug candidates have been nominated by Eli Lilly for late-stage, preclinical development. The drug candidates were developed by Lilly in collaboration with Zymeworks using Zymeworks’ proprietary Azymetric™ platform as part of the companies’ existing collaboration and licensing agreement. These two programs previously achieved a research milestone in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
- • On January 5, 2017, Zymeworks announced the successful achievement of a research milestone in a second immune-modulating bispecific antibody in its collaboration with Eli Lilly using Zymeworks’ proprietary Azymetric™ platform. In accordance with the terms of the licensing and collaboration agreement, Zymeworks is to receive an undisclosed milestone payment from Lilly.
- • On January 19, 2016, Zymeworks announced the successful achievement of a research milestone in its collaboration with Eli Lilly in the development of a novel immune-modulating bi-specific antibody using Zymeworks’ proprietary Azymetric™ platform. In accordance with the terms of the licensing and collaboration agreement, Zymeworks is to receive an undisclosed milestone payment from Lilly.
Is general: Yes
