LegoChem Biosciences and Nordic Nanovector enter collaboration to
develop novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting leukaemias
10
October 2016
Nordic Nanovector ASA (OSE: NANO),
is pleased to announce it has entered into a collaboration with LegoChem
Biosciences, Inc. (“LegoChem”; KOSDAQ: 141080), a South Korea-based
biopharmaceutical company, to develop novel CD37-targeting antibody-drug
conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of leukaemias. Leukemias are orphan
diseases with a significant unmet medical need, representing a growing market estimated
to be worth over USD 5 billion by 2024.
This collaboration supports
Nordic Nanovector’s strategy to expand its pipeline of targeted therapies to
include CD37-targeting antibody products conjugated to anti-cancer compounds
that are not radionuclides. Such conjugates are commonly referred to as
antibody-drug conjugates or ADCs.
Jostein Dahle, Nordic Nanovector’s Chief Scientific
Officer, commented: “We are delighted to expand our R&D activities into the
ADC area, a strategic and natural progression for us given our expertise in antibodies
and the prevalence of the CD37 antigen on many tumour cell types. We believe
that anti-CD37 ADCs will have clinical characteristics that are beneficial for
treating a range of haematological malignancies. Our strategy to build a
pipeline of innovative antibody-radionuclide conjugates (ARCs) and ADCs based
on our expertise and platform, and in collaboration with expert partners such
as LegoChem, is aimed at creating multiple new product opportunities bringing
new targeted treatments to patients.”
“We are very excited to enter into this collaboration
agreement to develop CD37-targeting ADCs with Nordic Nanovector, which has
expertise with anti-CD37 antibodies and experience of advancing candidates into
clinical research,” said Jeiwook Chae, Chief Business Development Officer of
LegoChem. “We strongly believe that our proprietary conjugation platform
addresses significant unmet needs of current ADC technologies. With Nordic
Nanovector’s deep expertise in antibodies and commitment to develop novel
therapeutics, we are confident that we will further enrich the pipeline of next-generation
ADCs and achieve our goals of advancing the landscape of cancer treatment and
providing new clinical options for cancer patients.”
For further information, please contact:
For Nordic Nanovector
IR enquiries:
Luigi Costa,
Chief Executive Officer
Cell: +41 79
124 8601
Tone Kvåle,
Chief Financial Officer
Cell: +47 91
51 95 76
Email: ir@nordicnanovector.com
Media
enquiries:
Mark
Swallow/David Dible (Citigate Dewe Rogerson)
Tel: +44 207
282 2948/+44 207 282 2949
Email: nordicnanovector@citigatedr.co.uk
For LegoChem
Biosciences
BD enquiries
Jeiwook Chae, Chief Business Development Officer
Tel: +82 42 861 0688
Email: bd@legochembio.com
IR enquiries
Wooshik Kim, Investor Relations Manager
Tel: +82 70 4811 3260
Email: ir@legochembio.com
About Nordic Nanovector:
Nordic Nanovector is a biotech company focusing on the
development and commercialisation of novel targeted therapeutics in haematology
and oncology. The Company’s lead clinical-stage product opportunity is
Betalutin®, the first in a new class of Antibody-Radionuclide-Conjugates (ARC)
designed to improve upon and complement current options for the treatment of
non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL). NHL is an indication with substantial unmet medical
need and orphan drug opportunities, representing a growing market worth over
$12 billion by 2018.
Betalutin® comprises a tumour-seeking anti-CD37
antibody, lilotomab (previously referred to as HH1), conjugated to a low
intensity radionuclide (lutetium-177). The preliminary data has shown promising
efficacy and safety profile in an ongoing Phase 1/2 study in a
difficult-to-treat NHL patient population. The Company is aiming at developing
Betalutin® for the treatment of major types of NHL with first regulatory
submission anticipated in 1H 2019.
Nordic Nanovector intends to retain marketing rights
and to actively participate in the commercialisation of Betalutin® in core
markets, while exploring potential distribution agreements in selected
geographies. The Company is committed to developing its ARC pipeline to treat
multiple selected cancer indications.
Further information about the Company can be found at www.nordicnanovector.com
This information is subject to the disclose requirements pursuant to
section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
About LegoChem Biosciences, Inc.
LegoChem Biosciences is a biopharmaceutical company
focusing on the development of next generation cancer therapeutics utilizing
its proprietary ADC platform technology ‘ConjuAll™’.
ConjuAll™ is a 2nd generation ADC platform
technology utilizing novel linker chemistry combined with site-specific
enzymatic conjugation. Our platform provides solutions for Site-specific
conjugation, Linker stability and Efficient payload release, which are three
major unmet needs in ADC development.
LegoChem has been successfully building ADC pipelines
through rigorous partnership activities. In August 2015, LegoChem Biosciences
signed a license and commercialization agreement with Fosun Pharma regarding Her2
targeting ADC for the Greater China market and in 2012, LegoChem licensed out
its ADC platform technology to Green Cross, one of the leading
biopharmaceutical companies in Korea for a Mesothelin-targeted ADC.
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