Synaffix Announces License Agreement with Mersana Therapeutics
Synaffix has entered into a license agreement with Mersana Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing a pipeline of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting cancers in areas of high unmet need. This agreement provides Mersana access to Synaffix’s industry-leading site-specific GlycoConnect™ ADC technology that has consistently demonstrated an ability to improve both the safety and the efficacy profiles of ADC product candidates. Synaffix is eligible to receive upfront and milestone payments on a per-target basis with a projected total deal value of $295 million, plus royalties.
Under the terms of the agreement, Mersana has been granted a non-exclusive license to incorporate GlycoConnect™ into one of its ADC development candidates, as well as an option to expand to additional programs. This agreement follows a research collaboration between the two companies that was centered around multiple product candidates.
“After evaluating several site-specific conjugation platforms, we have chosen Synaffix’s GlycoConnect™ technology for use in future ADC candidates,” said Anna Protopapas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mersana. “We are excited about the potential of this technology as it is designed not to require additional antibody engineering or cell-line modifications, which would offer us the potential to create site-specific antibodies for use in our ADCs when required.”
“We are particularly excited to enter into this agreement with a leading company in the field of ADCs such as Mersana,” said Peter van de Sande, CEO of Synaffix, who added “This collaboration is another testimony of the additional value that GlycoConnect™ is able to provide to already cutting-edge ADC technologies, thereby enabling novel medicines that are uniquely positioned to address areas of unmet medical need.”
Per the agreement, Mersana is responsible for the research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of any resulting ADC product while Synaffix will supply components that are specifically related to its proprietary GlycoConnect™ technology.
Source: Synaffix press release
