Diabody agreement between Pharmexa and Affitech

Danish immunotherapeutic and vaccine company, Pharmexa, and Oslo-based Affitech have signed a license agreement regarding diabodies. Under the agreement, Pharmexa has granted Affitech a worldwide exclusive license to conduct research and sub-license the intellectual property rights to diabodies. Both companies will share the proceeds from any third party agreements which arise.

The agreement covers the promotion of a single chain bi-specific antibody (diabody) technology to third parties for further product development, as well as to utilize the technology for Affitech’s own research. 

Diabodies, or bi-specific single chain antibodies, are recombinant antibody-like proteins which have unique attributes making them attractive candidates for a variety of therapeutic applications.

Under the terms of the agreement, Affitech may conduct IND-enabling research activities and will sub-license the intellectual property rights to third parties to conduct relevant activities leading to the manufacturing and commercialization of licensed products.

Pharmexa and Affitech will share all proceeds from such third party agreements. 

 - Affitech has extensive expertize in the antibody field and the capability to add significant value to the diabody technology, making it very attractive to potential partners for product development. Says Pharmexa’s CEO Jakob Schmidt.   

Affitech CEO Martin Welschof sees the agreement as further strengthening Affitech’s innovative antibody technology and IPR portfolio.

- Because of the built-in dual specificity, diabodies are extremely interesting in the field of cancer research. Therefore, we see them as having great potential in our chosen field of oncology therapeutics, Welschof commented.

Source: Press release Pharmexa, 03.04.2007.

Read more at the Pharmexa homepage.