Takeda and Affilogic entered into a research collaboration to develop therapies based on Nanofitines® in the central nervous system …
Osaka, Japan and Nantes, France, September 21, 2016 – [Press release]
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) and Affilogic today jointly announced that the companies have entered into a research collaboration to explore using Affilogic’s proprietary Nanofitins® platform in therapies targeting the central nervous system. Specifically, Affilogic and Takeda, through its research center in San Diego, California, will leverage their respective competencies to validate and optimize Nanofitins® that enable Takeda to deliver biotherapeutic candidates into the brain to address neurological disorders.
“Takeda has world class expertise in central nervous system drug discovery and we are very enthusiastic to work together to develop innovative biotherapeutics for the treatment of a number of neurological diseases,” said Olivier Kitten, Chief Executive Officer of Affilogic. “Takeda is a partner of choice for Affilogic to significantly expand the number of research programs relying on our Nanofitins® platform advancing into clinical trials.”
“The collaboration with Affilogic provides Takeda with an excellent opportunity to accelerate its modality diversification into biologics by utilizing the innovative Nanofitin® technology that Affilogic has developed,” commented Dr. Ceri Davies, Head of Takeda’s Central Nervous System Drug Discovery.
Nanofitins® are potent antibody-mimetics, exhibiting high affinity and specificity for capture, targeting and interaction with biomolecules. They can be easily conjugated to other moieties, such as antibodies, small molecules, and nanoparticles, to empower third parties’ molecules, their very small size triggering low impact on the natural properties of such payload.
Under the terms of the agreement, Affilogic will receive an upfront payment and research funding, and is eligible to receive additional development and sales milestone payments and royalties by Takeda. Takeda will be entitled to commercialize worldwide products incorporating Affilogic Nanofitins® resulting from the collaboration. Further details of the agreement were not disclosed.
About Takeda
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) is a global, R&D-driven pharmaceutical company committed to bringing better health and a brighter future to patients by translating science into life-changing medicines. Takeda focuses its research efforts on oncology, gastroenterology and central nervous system therapeutic areas. It also has specific development programs in specialty cardiovascular diseases as well as late-stage candidates for vaccines. Takeda conducts R&D both internally and with partners to stay at the leading edge of innovation. New innovative products, especially in oncology, central nervous system and gastroenterology, as well as its presence in emerging markets, fuel the growth of Takeda. More than 30,000 Takeda employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients, working with our partners in health care in more than 70 countries.
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About Affilogic
Affilogic is a privately-owned biotech company specialized in discovery and development of a novel class of targeting ligands called Nanofitins®. Nanofitins® demonstrate many small molecule-like attributes such as a very small size (7 kDa, around 20 times smaller than a monoclonal antibody), an extreme robustness and a better tissue penetration. Deriving from a naturally hyperstable scaffold, Nanofitins® are resistant to temperature and pH, stable to proteases, spontaneously refolding… Nanofitins® are produced by simple, scalable, GMPcompliant bacterial fermentation at very attractive costs or by chemical synthesis.
Affilogic has designed Nanofitins® against 50+ targets to date, including a wide range of circulating antigens (peptides, proteins), membrane receptors for inhibition / modulation / translocation, and complex entities (Virus-like Particles, bacteria, whole cells). Nanofitin®-based drugs are currently being developed in collaboration with Sanofi, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and other undisclosed pharmaceutical companies. Several early-stage programs are currently exploring
– (i) non-injectable administration of Nanofitins®,
– (ii) Nanofitin®-Drug Conjugates.
– (iii) multifunctional Nanofitins® Affilogic designs and develops Nanofitins® through early-stage collaborations