TIDMAVCT
RNS Number : 1266E
Avacta Group PLC
14 July 2016
Avacta and Glythera announce collaboration to develop novel,
potentially highly potent, drug class
-- The collaboration will evaluate the use of Avacta's Affimer
technology in combination with Glythera's PermaLink conjugation
chemistry
-- Generation of a new class of highly targeted bio-therapeutics
as a potentially superior alternative to antibody drug conjugates
(ADCs), a market estimated to be worth $10bn by 2024
Avacta Group plc (AIM: AVCT) ("Avacta" or "the Group") the
developer of Affimer(R) biotherapeutics and research reagents and
Glythera Limited the developer of advanced, stable conjugation
chemistries and novel, ultra-potent toxin payloads, today announce
that they have established a collaboration to evaluate the use of
Glythera's PermaLink(TM) conjugation chemistry in combination with
Avacta's Affimer technology with the aim of developing a new class
of highly targeted bio-therapeutics as a superior alternative to
the established class of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs).
ADCs use an antibody to which a toxin/chemotherapy payload is
chemically attached for targeted delivery to a tumour. Over 50 ADCs
are currently in clinical development; of these, approximately a
quarter are in Phase II or Phase III. The market is estimated to be
worth around $1bn today from two approved compounds and is expected
to be worth $10bn annually by 2024(1) .
The combined potential benefits of the Affimer and PermaLink
technologies have the potential to create an analogous leading
protein drug conjugate platform with a number of benefits over
current ADC offerings. Use of Avacta's Affimer technology (i)
provides the ability to closely control the position and number of
toxins in the payload; (ii) has the benefit of much shorter
development times (iii) has the flexibility to "design-in" the
required pharmacokinetics (the time the drug spends in the blood
stream), and (iv) is much easier, more consistent and has lower
cost production. The small size of the Affimer molecule is likely
to also improve tumour penetration compared with antibodies which
are ten times larger in size.
Another major issue facing ADCs is the limited stability of
chemical linkages currently used to attach the toxin to the
antibody resulting in the toxin coming off the antibody and causing
"off-target" and often severe, side effects. Glythera's PermaLink
chemical linkers provide much more stable attachment of the
toxin/chemotherapy and can potentially reduce such off-target
toxicity effects.
Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will develop
materials and methods to be used in the generation of Affimer-drug
conjugates. The proof of concept study aims to demonstrate the key
technical and commercial benefits of the combination over
traditional antibody and linker approaches. The two companies will
partner to offer Affimer-drug conjugate development services, and
licensing of the combined platform, to pharmaceutical
developers.
(1)
https://www.rootsanalysis.com/reports/view_document/antibody-drug-conjugates-market-2014-2024/63.html
http://worldadc-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/99/2015/10/09.15-Clinical-Day-JEM-ADCs-in-Clinical-Trials-Hanson-Wade.pdf
Dr Alastair Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Avacta,
commented:
"At the half year we set out a detailed commercial strategy for
Affimer reagents and therapeutics. We highlighted the importance of
commercial partnerships in order to make rapid progress in the
areas of strategic focus. In that context we recently announced a
collaboration with Mologic to develop Affimer based lateral flow
devices which would open up the rapid diagnostics market
opportunity and today we are very pleased to report the
establishment of this collaboration with Glythera in the area of
ADCs, another important application area for Affimer
technology.
Avacta's Affimer technology has significant benefits for drug
conjugate development, and the combination of the two companies'
technologies has the potential to deliver a best-in-class solution
for those wishing to access such a platform. We are therefore
confident that this partnership with Glythera will further
demonstrate the utility of the Affimer platform as a powerful
approach to generating a broad range of biotherapeutics, creating
opportunities for third party licensing of the platform with the
potential to generate long-term value for both companies.
We continue to make good progress across all aspects of the
strategy that we set out and I look forward to further updating the
market in due course."
Dr Dave Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, Glythera, said:
"Combining Glythera's PermaLink conjugation chemistry with
Avacta's Affimer technology will demonstrate the benefits of
PermaLink across a new targeting molecule class, opening additional
avenues for bringing novel therapeutic assets to market. This is an
exciting step forward in bio-therapeutic development, and could
lead to improved patient outcomes."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For further information from Avacta Group plc, please
contact:
Avacta Group plc Tel: +44 (0)
Alastair Smith, Chief Executive 844 414 0452
Officer www.avacta.com
Tony Gardiner, Chief Financial
Officer
Numis Securities Limited Tel: +44 (0)
Michael Meade / Freddie Barnfield 207 260 1000
- Nominated Adviser www.numiscorp.com
James Black - Corporate Broking
WG Partners Tel: +44 (0)
David Wilson 203 705 9318
Nigel Barnes Tel: +44 (0)
Claes Spang 203 705 9217
www.wgpartners.co.uk
Zyme Communications (Trade and Tel: +44 (0)7787
Regional Media) 502 947
Katie Odgaard katie.odgaard@zymecommunications.com
FTI Consulting (Financial Media Tel: +44 (0)
and IR) 203 727 1000
Simon Conway / Natalie Garland-Collins avacta@fticonsulting.com
For further information from Glythera, please contact:
Glythera Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 191 6031680
Dave Simpson, Chief Executive info@glythera.com
Officer www.glythera.com
Ian Evetts, Chief Business
Officer
About Avacta Group plc (www.avacta.com)
Avacta's principal focus is on its proprietary Affimer(R)
technology which is a novel engineered alternative to antibodies
that has wide application in Life Sciences for diagnostics,
therapeutics and general research and development.
Antibodies dominate markets worth in excess of $50bn despite
their shortcomings. Affimer technology has been designed to address
many of these negative performance issues, principally; the time
taken to generate new antibodies, the reliance on an animal's
immune response, poor specificity in many cases, and batch to batch
variability. Affimer technology is based on a small protein that
can be quickly generated to bind with high specificity and affinity
to a wide range of protein targets.
Avacta has a pre-clinical biotech development programme with an
in-house focus on immuno-oncology and bleeding disorders as well as
partnered development programmes. Avacta is commercialising
non-therapeutic Affimer reagents through licensing to developers of
life sciences research tools and diagnostics.
About Glythera Limited
Glythera, an IP Group portfolio company, specialises in the
development of next generation biotherapeutics, through the
application of its advanced proprietary linker and stable glycan
technologies: PermaLink(TM) and PermaCarb(TM). Our linker
technology platforms have the potential to enhance and strengthen
pharmaceutical drug candidates.
Biotherapeutics are an integral part of modern medicine,
particularly in the oncology space, due to their efficacious
properties and ability to target specific molecules within the
human body. The Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) field is a key area
within the protein and antibody engineering industry. ADCs are
complex molecules composed of an antibody linked to a biological
active cytotoxic (anti-cancer) drug. A stable link between the
antibody and cytotoxic agent is a crucial aspect of an ADC.
Glythera's highly specific, stable linker technology addresses many
of the instability issues faced by current conjugation methods. Our
technology platforms enable efficient and cost effective
development and manufacture of new efficacious biologics that
improve half-life and optimize bio-availability and which are
highly specific, stable, robust and safe.
Glythera's PermaLink(TM) technology is a controlled, stable
conjugation platform composed of a portfolio of linker designs.
PermaLink(TM) can be employed for the selective and stable
functionalization and conjugation of various cargos to proteins and
peptides.
PermaCarb(TM) is a highly stable sialic acid derivative which
can be conjugated to a glycan of choice via an enzyme mediated
reaction during downstream processing in a scalable and compliant
fashion. Our stable glycan technology PermaCarb(TM) is designed to
facilitate the creation of biotherapeutics which can be
administered at lower doses and/or reduced frequency.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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